The Falls Theater

The Falls Theater is a theater located in River Falls, Wisconsin in the United States. The theater has been operating since 1927.

History

Before the Theater

The first theater in River Falls opened from May to July 1908 and was named The Electric Theater Company. The theater was renamed The Gem November 1909. The showtimes were 7, 8, and 9 o'clock at a cost of 5 to 10 cents. It was the only theater in town until The Princess opened in 1911. After a fire in 1926 that destroyed three buildings on the west side of Main street, plans were set in motion for a new and more modern theater to be built.[1]

The Theater

The Falls Theater was built from January to July 1927. It cost $25,000 at the time, which taking inflation into account, would be approximately $326,700 today. It was leased out by the George E. Miner Amusement Company from 1927–1952 and it was owned by Phil Ramer and Emil Carisch and contained leather seats, curtains to reduce noise and light, 2 bathrooms, and 2 projectors. The first movie to be shown was "Painting the Town" and the price was 10-25 cents, or $3.25 today. They had gained so much popularity they bought a neon sign in 1936. They did not have any concessions available but if popcorn was desired, it could be purchased across the street. During World War II, management changed to Archie McClellan. In 1952, the theater was sold to Jan and Agnes Morey of Minneapolis, who then sold it to Herbert Stolzman, a man who has made his career in the theater business, 3 years later. He remodeled the front, added a modern sign, which is still there today, and added a drink machine to the newer concession stand. After 17 years of owning the theater, he sold it to Stan McCulloch, who ran the theater until his death in January 2002.[2] The theater is still run to this day by McCulloch's family. Admission is $3–4 and they show first run movies. It still contains the stage and single screen.

References

  1. ↑ "The Falls Theatre". The Falls Theatre.
  2. ↑ Kevin Harter, "River Falls, Wis., Movie Theater Raises Funds to Keep Admissions at $2." St. Paul Pioneer Press, syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, September 7, 2003  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .

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