Crystal Theatre

The Grand Theatre adjoining the Grand Hotel to the north on Minnesota Street opened its doors on January 10, 1920 by George W. Schlottman.

Original information about the Grand Theatre as of 1920 goes as follows: The Grand Theatre is a 26x115ft fireproof building featuring a 20-foot ceiling built up of Springfield bricks in a combination of color shades, decorated with a metal canopy above. The fringe of the canopy consists of colored art glass and the words “Grand Theatre” in front and “Grand” on either end. Inside the theatre is artistically decorated in a stipple effect, paneled off with pleasing borders to match. Aside from the small electric sidewall lights, there are several mould fixtures on the ceiling each with cluster of six frosted glass gloves. These are interspersed with seven ventilators with six oscillating fans installed along the side walls.

The auditorium as of 1919 housed 450 seats with the stage measuring 16x26ft. Underneath the stage contains two dressing rooms, a waiting room, and restrooms that were arranged with electric lights, heat, and other then-modern conveniences. In front of the stage is the orchestra pit and at either side is the exit doors with so-called “panic bolts” lead out into the open air. The panic bolts work automatically opening the exit doors immediately they are pushed against. Its original projectors in the fireproof projection booth contains two Motiograph De Luxe models, and was the only machine model made at the time that can accommodate a total of 3,000ft of film. The two machines are connected electrically that whenever one of them runs empty, the other immediately started up automatically without any interruption. The original screen is Idealite manufactured by the Luedtke’s Picture Screen factory in St. Peter, Minnesota. Lastly, a four-piece orchestra consisting of a piano, violin, slide trombone, and drums furnish the music at every performance.

It was renamed the New Crystal Theatre in July 1921, but this was short-lived. The Crystal Theatre most likely closed the following year either in or around 1922.

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