West Bend Theatre

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Finally placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, 90 years after it was built, the West Bend Theatre has gained a new life since renovations began in 2018. When it first opened in 1929, the theater was a source of local pride and over 800 people attended the grand opening.

Images

West Bend Theatre in 1930. WCHS 015,338

1951 photo of the West Bend Theatre stage. WCHS 017,334

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The West Bend Theatre, a home for live performances and motion pictures, opened on November 26, 1929 to a packed house of 800 theatergoers. The evening included the Hearst Newsreel and Vitaphone Comedy presentations accompanied by the “mighty golden voiced Barton Organ,” as well as several musical numbers. Back then, an adult would pay $0.50 to see a show, and children, $0.25. In 1936, theatre manager A.C. Berkholtz installed one of the first air conditioning systems in West Bend. The theatre was split into two theaters in the 1970’s and made into three in 1992.

By 2006 the theatre had closed but the building has since been re-purchased, renovated and has been reopened by Historic West Bend Theatre, Inc. The group has converted the former cinema into a venue for classic and children's movies, plays by local theater groups, music and comedy shows, and events such as weddings and corporate meetings.

Sources

Leadership West Bend Class of 2018. Historic Downtown West Bend Walking Tour. West Bend, Wisconsin. 2018.

McAlpine, Linda. "Now Playing." The Daily News (West Bend) January 11th 2018. B8.

Unknown. "West Bend Theatre Placed on State's Historic Registry." The Daily News (West Bend) November 29th 2019. .

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Unknown photographer. Original photograph owned by the Washington County Historical Society.