Mozart Theatre

The Mozart Theatre was an early silent movie house in the Lykins neighborhood. Located next to fire station #12, the Mozart Theatre opened in 1913. The firefighters reportedly could watch free movies from their perch in the fire house. In the summer, the air conditioner-less theatre would open those windows for cross-ventilation and the firefighters would hear the piano accompaniment. A confectionery operated at the front of the theatre serving candy, popcorn and drinks as the de facto concession stand for the Mozart Theatre.

H.H. Barrett took on the venue in 1918 and, after a refresh due to a fire, he had a grand reopening as the “new” Mozart Theatre with Marguerite Courtot in “The Unbeliever” on September 14, 1918. Barrett had local amateur nights as a low-cost alternative to vaudeville/movie combo theater programming.

The Mozart Theatre had a good run until the superior Ritz Theatre opened across the street in November of 1925. The two co-existed into the early-1930’s with the Ritz Theatre converting to sound and the Mozart Theatre remaining silent. S. Nusbaum appears to have closed the venue. It appears to have been converted first to an auto garage before becaming a long-running beauty shop. Though the fire house remains, the former Mozart Theatre was later razed - apparently suffering a fire according to reports.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.