Crystal Theatre (I)

This is the first out of 2 Crystal Theatres in Genoa. It started life as the Lyric Theatre in as early as 1925. The reason why I said “as early as” because it has nothing to do with the Lyric in Sycamore. So the main opening date has not to be found yet.

The original building is located at the Odd Fellow Building, and the original owner was George Geithman, who sold the Lyric Theatre on January 13, 1928 to a Genoa-native Albert Awe. Albert operated the theatre until July 10, 1929. He closed the theatre and left it unplugged until the following September. On September 12, Peter Williams will be charged as manager for the theatre and had plans to reopen. Less than a year later on March 15, 1930, Genia’s new state bank’s plan and meeting were held at the Lyric Theatre.

A major large rally event occurred at one point on March 6, 1934 with 275+ people attending a Democratic rally at the Lyric Theatre as a number of people were being presented for that evening. Speakers such as Bryan Henaughan of DeKalb and Kenneth Furr of Genoa, including candidates for DeKalb County clerks Henry Craft of DeKalb, Harry Norton of Somonauk, and H. B. Thompson of Sycamore who were sheriff clerks. Others included Leslie Marshall of Sycamore as the county treasurer, Leonard Thompson of DeKalb as the superintendent of schools, and Carl Kellman of Sycamore who spoke in behalf of Dr. D. O. Thompson of Sycamore who were candidates for Congress. Attorney and Judge candidate Lewis Long of Sandwich gave an interesting talk about the CWA, AAA, and the world famous NRA programs while Thomas Murray of DeKalb who was the leader of the Democratic party gave a most interesting history on the party from the Jefferson days to this time.

A number of short months later on August 18, 1934, the Lyric Theatre became the Crystal Theatre. Mr. Fred LeKander’s brother of the direct manager Glenn LeKander of Geneva (who operated the Fargo Theatre in DeKalb) had plans to arrange the 200-capacity theatre including remodeling and new equipment being installed. It would later reopen on September 1, 1934. Mr. Fred LeKander and his wife Mrs. Fred LeKander would later operate the theatre for a few decades (Mr. Fred LeKander would later operate an antique and furniture store until June 1977. He then left Genoa for Bradenton, Florida who lived there until his death on March 24, 1983).

On September 1, 1937, the first Crystal Theatre ended up closing its doors for the final time due to the theatre being relocating to a former old Ford garage. It would later reopen the second Crystal Theatre the following October.

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