Fun Facts:
-Cost to open the theater was $40,000.
-It was one of 3 public projects during the turn of the century funded by Neenah industrialists and their families.
-Stock certificates for the theater were sold in 1903 for $1 a share.
-Architect was Chicagoan Sidney Lovell. He was best known for designing mausoleums.
-The building's style of architecture was Prairie School.
-First performance at the theater was scheduled to be William Shakespeare's Othello but was Hamlet instead.
-Theatergoers would buy 5 cent Coca-Cola at the soda fountain across the street in Morton Economy Drug.
Time line:
Dec. 5th, 1901 - Formation of the Neenah Auditorium Company for the purpose of building and maintaining a theater, opera, and general amusement house. A public stock subscription for the company is made and funds used in construction. Theda Clark Peters is a major contributor.
1902 - Construction of the theater building completed.
Dec. 26th 1902 - Opening show.
1909 - Neenah Club is organized and leases the auditorium portion of the theater building for use.
1912 - John Herziger opens the Doty Theater, creating a competition for business between the two theaters.
Oct. 22, 1919 - Ownership of the theater is transferred from the Neenah Auditorium Company to the Neenah Club.
1920s- Wisconsin Dramatic Society is created with help from Wisconsin actress Laura Cass Sherry. Members of the club performed plays such as Glory of the Morning by William Leonard.
1920s- Theater shifts to playing movies instead of live performances. Movies at the time were silent, so an organ made by Bartola was used to play along with the silent films.
1941- Theater is purchased by the Marcus Corporation and begins to play the movies of Hollywood film producers such as Universal Pictures.
1997 - Theater closes and is bought by Future Neenah in an attempt to turn the theater into a community arts and entertainment center.
1998 - Fundraising for the theater is not successful, and the building is torn down to make room for the Neenah Center office towers.
Dec. 5th, 1901 - Formation of the Neenah Auditorium Company for the purpose of building and maintaining a theater, opera, and general amusement house. A public stock subscription for the company is made and funds used in construction. Theda Clark Peters is a major contributor.
1902 - Construction of the theater building completed.
Dec. 26th 1902 - Opening show.
1909 - Neenah Club is organized and leases the auditorium portion of the theater building for use.
1912 - John Herziger opens the Doty Theater, creating a competition for business between the two theaters.
Oct. 22, 1919 - Ownership of the theater is transferred from the Neenah Auditorium Company to the Neenah Club.
1920s- Wisconsin Dramatic Society is created with help from Wisconsin actress Laura Cass Sherry. Members of the club performed plays such as Glory of the Morning by William Leonard.
1920s- Theater shifts to playing movies instead of live performances. Movies at the time were silent, so an organ made by Bartola was used to play along with the silent films.
1941- Theater is purchased by the Marcus Corporation and begins to play the movies of Hollywood film producers such as Universal Pictures.
1997 - Theater closes and is bought by Future Neenah in an attempt to turn the theater into a community arts and entertainment center.
1998 - Fundraising for the theater is not successful, and the building is torn down to make room for the Neenah Center office towers.
Sources:
"CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Neenah Theatre, Neenah WI"CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Neenah Theatre, Neenah WI. N.p., n.d. Web.
31 May 2015.
"Wisconsin Historical Society." 114 E WISCONSIN AVE. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
Sneath, Chirstine. "From the THS Archives: Neenah, Wisconsin Opera House and Theatre." Theatre Historical Society of America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016.
"Future Neenah." Future Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016.
"CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Neenah Theatre, Neenah WI"CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Neenah Theatre, Neenah WI. N.p., n.d. Web.
31 May 2015.
"Wisconsin Historical Society." 114 E WISCONSIN AVE. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 May 2015.
Sneath, Chirstine. "From the THS Archives: Neenah, Wisconsin Opera House and Theatre." Theatre Historical Society of America. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016.
"Future Neenah." Future Neenah. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2016.