website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Review article on Watertown movie theaters
Classic Theater
Towne Cinema
308 E
Main
1900s
During the early 1900s,
the Concordia building housed two theaters - the
Empire and the Colonial - which featured both film and vaudeville acts. WDT, 09 10 2007
1902
01 31 The Kinodrome
show commenced a three-night engagement at the Concordia Opera House, January 30th. A few words explaining what
the Kinodrome show is. The Kinodrome is the
moving picture machine now in universal use in the leading vaudeville theatres
in the country. We mention this to
demonstrate the high order of the pictures this machine must exhibit to retain
its prestige and constant use in the theatres it is at this time being operated
in. The Kinodrome
show is an exhibition of moving pictures sent on tour under the direction of
the company operating these various machines in the manner stated. It has been found necessary to gain public
favor and interest in our moving picture exhibitions at various theatres, to
obtain at all times scenes and incidents of having things up to date, and in so
doing we have accumulated the largest and most varied stock of animated
pictures in existence. Up to the introduction
of the Kinodrome show on tour the public outside of
the cities had only a slight knowledge of what is being accomplished in motion
photography, the rapid advancement, ingenuity and quality of highest
photography being obtained in the mysterious art . . . The exhibition promised
is of the most interesting kind, and should be seen to be appreciated. Seats now on sale at Gamm's. Admission 10, 20, and 30c. Saturday matinee. WG
Cross
Reference: Info
on Kinodrome
1907
03 23 A
petition to exclude panoramic views from paying license in the city was
introduced and referred to the Judiciary committee. This is in the interest of the new five-cent
theater recently started here.
WDT
1913 Classic Opened in 1913
The Classic Theatre was opened here
in 1913 at 310 Main Street by Willis Norton.
It later became the Bonnet Shop while the Classic now utilizes its
present premises [308 E Main] and also part of the building to the rear of the
Bonnet Shop.
Over the years the Classic has
kept pace with all the new advances in motion picture entertainment. It introduced the first talkies in 1928, the
first such production to be shown here being "The Trial of Mary
Dugan" which based on a highly successful Broadway stage play.
In 1954 the Classic
introduced CinemaScope, having greatly enlarged its
screen and installed facilities to enable it to bring the best of modern day
"big screen" entertainment to its audiences.
1920s
1933 Mention of Oscar E.
Baumann, manager of the Classic Theatre, obit of Dr. R. J. Buss, Watertown
dentist
1939 August
Meinhardt Raabe, “Little Oscar” on bumper of Weinermobile,
at the premier of the film The Wizard of
Oz in Watertown. He was here for an
in-person appearance at the Classic Theater.
1950s
1959
04 22 Oscar Baumann—The retirement of Oscar E.
Baumann as manager of the Classic Theatre and his withdrawal from show business
to which he has devoted nearly 40 years of his life, was announced today. Mr. Baumann has been so long identified with
movie entertainment in Watertown that he was like a fixture in the theatre
lobby. One looked for him there and one
usually found him in or about the place.
That will be changed now. No
longer will he be there to greet patrons, pass along a little story or some
comment or witticism. During his many
years at the Classic Theatre he became one of the best known men in Watertown
with friends in every walk of life, from children on up. WDT
1957c
1957c, 308 E Main, 1950s-70s city
assessor image, WHS_006_041b
1957c, 308 E
Main, 1950s-70s city assessor form, WHS_006_041a
1960s
1961
07 01 Of
the thousands upon thousands of persons who passed through the portals of the
Classic Theatre and the Savoy Theatre here over
the years that A.W. (Doc) Schmeichel served as
doorman, handing their tickets to him, very few were aware of the part he
played in Watertown music and entertainment circles for two generations. The fact is that Doc has had a most unusual
musical career, having played with bands and orchestras, including his own
musical organization and a combo. Doc’s
start in the entertainment field dates back to 1912, nearly a half century ago,
when he began to play with the old Imperial Band of Watertown, then a leading
musical organization here. WDT
2010
Dec 
Towne
Cinema has been closed since mid-December of last year when Steve Lind, the
former lessee of the facilities, decided to terminate his lease. Lind and his family had leased the business from
John and Barb Bendall, the owners of Towne Cinema, since November of 2004.
2011
01 17&19 Cinema
request for liquor license
David Glazer, the owner of
Rosebud Entertainment LLC, applied for a Class B malt only license and a Class
C wine license for Towne Cinema. The
other theaters that Glazer operates - the Times Cinema in Milwaukee and the
Rosebud Cinema in Wauwatosa - also have alcohol licenses. Council OKed beer,
wine licenses on 01 18.
Glazer is in the process of
cleaning and painting the building and hopes to reopen the three-screen theater
later this month.
05 05 Towne Cinema reopening
Grand reopening celebrated with a
food drive that will benefit the community.
The first movie that will be shown at the theater will be “Thor” at
12:01 a.m. Towne Cinema will also be
showing “Thor,” “Fast Five” and the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” throughout
the next week.
Towne Cinema has been closed
since mid-December of last year when Steve Lind, the former lessee of the
facilities, decided to terminate his lease. Lind and his family had leased the
business since November of 2004. The new
operator of the theater is David Glazer.
The newly-refurbished cinema will play a mix of first-run films as well
as special family matinees, classics, independent movies and midnight cult
favorites.
Cross References:
Fourth of
July (1 of 2),
background, adjacent of Woolworth's
Fourth of
July (2 of 2),
background, adjacent of Woolworth's
Review article on Watertown movie theaters
