Rogers Cinema
310 N. 4th Street,
Wausau,
WI
54403
310 N. 4th Street,
Wausau,
WI
54403
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Carmike Cinemas, Essaness Theaters Corp., Excellence Theatres, Marcus Theatres
Functions: Church
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Hollywood Theatre, Wausau Theatre, Rogers Cinema I & II, Wausau 5 Cinema
Nearby Theaters
The early-20th century Bluhm Building was originally used for retail, then, in the mid-1920’s, a funeral home opened in the building, which lasted until the late-1930’s.
On April 10, 1942, the 670-seat Hollywood Theatre was opened on the ground floor of the structure. On August 31, 1960 following a refurbishment it reopened as the Wausau Theatre with Walt Disney’s “Bambi”. In 1978 Rogers Cinemas took over and on February 23, 1979 it was renamed Rogers Cinema and on March 9, 1979 it was renamed Rogers Cinema I & II following twinning. They later increased the theatre to five screens. It was last operated by Marcus Cinemas under the name of the Rogers Cinema, but was closed February 28, 2002.
Former employees of the Rogers claim the theatre is haunted by a spirit which they’ve nicknamed “Bob”, who has been known to flip lights on and off, rock the seats in the auditoriums violently, and turn off projectors during movie showings.
Recent plans to convert the theater into a cyber cafe were abandoned. It became a nightclub named Fillmore and by 2015 it became the Downtown Mission Chuch.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Hey!
Read an article in the Wassau WI paper this 2005 4th of July weekend that they are going to restore/renovate the Rogers Cinema for a live venue, even to have the readers buy a seat and have their name on it. Hope they make it!
I just shot a movie at the Rogers Theater, basing the main story on rumors that a woman was killed there in the whore house days!
As for the live venue rumors, I know the owner and he’s been hard at work in the last 2 months renovating the building to turn it in to a bar!
-bhw
www.themediummovie.com
Google map view above shows a place called the Fillmor. Appears to be open at time of Street View photo.
Nice marquee shots of RODGERS CINEMA.
The Rogers was converted to a night club and renamed the Fillmore. The original nightclub owners filed for bankruptcy. The Fillmore has recently reopened, still as a night club, under new ownership.
Paul Rogers closed the cinema in August 2000. Marcus Theatres bought the 5-screen theatre and reopened on Dec. 15, 2000 featuring art and independent films. By February 2001, there was not enough demand, so they switched the format to show mainstream films that had finished their run at local theatres.
4 photos added, 3 as the Fillmore, Hollywood & Rogers.
The local paper says the Hollywood Theatre was opened in the Bluhm Building on April 10, 1942. Keith La Vake refurbished the former Hollywood Theatre location and reused the Wausau Theatre moniker in its new location beginning on August 31, 1960 in its grand opening with “Bambi.”
In 1978, Rogers Cinema took over the location operating it as a one-screen operation for a brief period. The location became the Rogers Cinema on February 23, 1979 until its second screen was ready and becoming the Rogers Cinema I & II on March 9, 1979.
Once operated by Essaness Theaters, later Excellence Theatres, and later Carmike for a few years. Shortly after Carmike’s bankruptcy filing in 2000, the Rogers Cinema became a Marcus theater until its February 28, 2002 closure.