Edwardsville Theaters
MAIN
STREET AIRDOME/GEM AIRDOME
The Main Street Airdome, first owned by Mr. Keene, was located at
241 N. Main Street in Edwardsville, where the Chicago Title and
Trust Company was later located. Today this location houses offices
for attorneys. The Main Street Airdome opened in June 1908, showing
vaudeville, illustrated songs, and moving pictures. The manager was
Arthur Gillespie. The roof of the theater was canvas, and one time
when it rained and filled with water, kids took a knife and cut a
hole in it, letting water pour all over everyone. Gas lighting
served as a mark of identity for the theater. The last show was
advertised on January 1, 1909 – a special New Year’s Day matinee,
and projectionist Andy Roehrkalb, formerly of the Nickelodeon
Theater, left to work at the newly-opened Wildey Theater. The Main
Street Airdome was put up for sale on June 4, 1914.
SENSATIONAL SPECIALTY AT MAIN STREET AIRDOME
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, June 01, 1908
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, June 1, 2, 3, 1908, the Main Street
Airdome have a high-class sensational feature billed – The Two
Ziemers – the American Knife, Sword and Battle Ax Experts. Miss
Ziemer stands against a large board, while Mr. Ziemer throws knives
and battle axes around and about her, pinning her so tight that it
is impossible for her to leave her position without being released.
Cutting ashes from a cigar held in the teeth, cutting an apple or
potato on the naked hand, arm, back of the neck, top of the head,
side of the face, and last upon the throat. A blood curdling act
from start to finish. 2,000 feet of film, 2 illustrated songs, new
every day. Vaudeville acts change Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Moving pictures and illustrated songs every day. Arthur Gillespie,
Manager.
GEM THEATER
The Gem Theater, formerly the Main Street Airdome, was located at
241 N. Main Street in Edwardsville. This theater opened on March 17,
1915. The last showing at the Gem, with John Siepker as owner, was
on January 31, 1916. For a time, the theater was used by churches
and other community events.
REBUILT
GEM THEATER IS TO OPEN NEXT WEEK
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 6, 1915
The Gem Theater on North Main Street will open the latter part of
next week, according to a statement this afternoon by the manager.
The theater was formerly the Main Street Theater. All the center
posts have been removed from the interior of the building, and the
ceiling has been covered with “beaver board.” Four hundred new seats
will arrive Monday. They are the only thing now lacking. They were
expected last week, but owing to a mistake in shipping, did not
arrive. Andrew Foehrkalb, a union operator, will operate the motion
picture machine. The machine is one of the latest type, two-reel
feature films being shown without changing of reels. The machine is
controlled by a rectifier, which is installed near a window. Persons
can see the operation of the rectifier from the street. A heavy
steel booth, which is absolutely fireproof, takes the place of a
cheaply constructed wooden one. Only pictures will be shown at the
theater.
NEW GEM THEATER OPENS
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 16, 1915
The new Gem Theater, formerly the Main Street Theater, will be
opened for the first performance tomorrow evening. There will be
shows every evening, and a matinee on every Sunday afternoon in the
future. The theater has been nicely finished on the inside. The
ceiling and walls have been decorated and the lighting fixtures
re-arranged. All new scats have been installed, and a new booth for
the motion picture machine has been constructed of steel. There are
plenty of exits in case of fire or accidents, so that the entire
audience could leave the building hurriedly. The building will have
plenty of ventilation, and in the summer, the large fan in front of
the building will supply fresh air.
TRANSFERRED FROM CITY
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, February 9, 1916
Andrew Foehrkalb, former motion picture operator at the Gem Theater,
has been transferred to the theater at Collinsville.
NICKELODEON THEATER
The Nickelodeon Theater was located at 214 St. Louis Street in
Edwardsville. This two-story frame building had an ornamental tin
front. It was the enterprise of brothers Arthur and Robert
Gillespie, and consisted of a sheet nailed to the back wall, 150
folding chairs, and a hand-cranked projector atop a rickety, wooden
platform rising to within three-foot of the roof, where the hapless
operator stood bent double, as he cranked away, grinding out the
slapstick epics of the time. The longest feature was made up of
three reels, and the entire show, including interruptions for broken
film, took an hour or less to run. The Gillespie brothers bought an
Edison phonograph with a horn 6-foot long, and 3 feet in diameter.
It played off cylinders of three minutes duration, and since no one
had yet heard or conceived an automatic record changer, it needed a
boy to do just that - Andy Foehrkalb, age thirteen, who was hired to
straighten the chairs after the daily performance and help in the
theater whenever he was called upon. One sweltering evening at the
theater, one of the Gillespie brothers operating the projector
started feeling ill, and called Andy to take over, which he did. The
film ran off the reel into a hole in the floor, and projectionists
thought themselves lucky to catch the end of the film before it
disappeared below the hole in the floor – otherwise they had a hard
time finding the end to reel it up again. Foehrkalb later left the
Nickelodeon for a similar job at the Main Street Theater.
OH GEE/LUX
THEATER
The Oh Gee Theater, located at 112-116 N. Main Street (in the Giese
Building) in Edwardsville, was opened by Olin Giese (known to his
friends as "Gee") in 1920. The name of the theater was taken from
his initials. If you walk along North Main Street and look up, you
can still see the name "Giese" above the second story windows of the
building. Originally the building was used by William C. Kriege and
Company as a general merchandise store. Later it was remodeled and
the Oh Gee Theater was opened.
The
Oh Gee Theater could seat around 700 people. Due to the opening of
the Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, the Oh Gee closed in less than
two years. Mr. Giese then managed the Wildey until his death. The
funeral for Giese was held on the stage in the Wildey Theater to
accommodate the large crowd.
In 1939 the theater was remodeled and reopened by Virgil Merritt and
Tony Serra as the Lux Theater. A few years after the Lux opened, it
was sold to a group of businessmen that included Clyde Metcalf.
Metcalf set up a tiny office just off the lobby where he sold
insurance. In the 1950s he placed a television in the
lobby. If patrons didn't like the feature film, they could come out
into the lobby to watch television, since many didn't have sets at
home. George Metcalf joined his parents in the
theater-insurance-real estate business in 1957. The two men ran the
projectors themselves when they could no longer afford the two union
projectionists.
The Lux remained in operation until 1958, with a showing of "The Ten
Commandments." The building was then was converted to retail use,
which it continues to be used for to this day.
ORPHEUM/FAMILY THEATER
The Orpheum Theater was located on St. Louis Street, next to the
Leland Hotel. The Orpheum, which opened January 13, 1908, was
advertised as the coolest theater in town, with no posts to obstruct
the view. The building was constructed of fire-proof brick. There
was a matinee every afternoon from 2 until 5:30 p.m., and evening
shows were from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. Admission was 5 cents for
children, and 10 cents for adults. Mr. Fowler was the manager. This
theater was sold in July 1908, and reopened as the Family Theater.
ORPHEUM THEATER OPENS
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, January 14, 1908
The Orpheum Theater on St. Louis Street opened last night with a
good bill, and from a point of attendance and the excellence of the
films, the opening night was a success. The performance commences at
7 o’clock, and lasts one hour, three performances being given in an
evening.
THE FAMILY THEATER
In July 1908, J. B. Parker, president of the Family Theater Company,
purchased the Orpheum Theater. Renamed the Family Theater, the
theater reopened on July 26, 1908, with Ed F. McCrumish of Granite
City as the new manager. McCrumish, a tenor, also sang during the
illustrated songs. This theater included updated ventilation and
carpeted aisles. The theater catered to the women and children of
the community, with no performances that would offend the “most
fastidious taste.” In 1929, it was stated in an article that Edward
Fellis of Hillsboro operated the Family Theater fifteen years ago.
This theater closed some time in 1909, I believe.
ORPHEUM THEATER SOLD
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 16, 1908
The Family Theater Company has purchased from Manager Fowler the
Orpheum on St. Louis Street, and will shortly reopen it. J. B.
Parker of St. Louis, president of the company, was here last night
to see what arrangements could be made for interior changes, it
being his idea to include Edwardsville in a circuit now forming, and
put in first-class stock and vaudeville companies. Ed F. McCrumish
of Granite City will probably move here and take charge of the
theater.
FAMILY THEATER TO OPEN
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 22, 1908
The Orpheum Theater, which has been closed for a time, will be
reopened Sunday, July 26, under new management, and will be known in
the future as the Family Theater. It is the policy of the new
management to make this theater a place of amusement catering to the
women and children – a place where they may go unattended with
assurance that everything will be done for their protection,
amusement, and comfort, and where nothing will be shown that could
offend the most fastidious taste.
The theater has been equipped with an enlarged stage and new
scenery, and four large ceiling fans have been installed, which will
make it cool and comfortable. Advanced vaudeville, motion pictures,
and illustrated songs will be the offering of the new management.
The vaudeville features will be changed twice weekly, and two reels,
comprising 2,000 feet of subjects never before shown in
Edwardsville, will be offered each night, making a complete change
of the picture program nightly.
The vaudeville offering for the opening week will be “The
Strollers,” at present the headliners at Mannion’s Park, St. Louis,
in their two high-class comedy sketches, “Chums” and “when the
Ticker Ticks.” This theater is now working in conjunction with
several others, with the same policy, which enables it to secure the
very best of vaudeville. The prices will be ten cents for general
admission and twenty cents for reserved seats. Two performances each
evening will be given – one at 7:30 and one at 9 o’clock. Mr. Ed F.
McCrumish will be the resident manager, and will make his home in
Edwardsville. Mr. McCrumish, who has been associated for the past
fourteen years with different grand and comic opera companies such
as the Royal Opera Company of Quebec, Canada, Columbia, Manhattan,
Herald Square, Andrews Boston Ideal Opera Companies, B. C. Whitney’s
“Isle of Spice” Co., in the capacity of principal tenor, will sing
the illustrated songs. A theater with such a policy as the new
management proposes will fill a long-felt want in Edwardsville, and
will no doubt meet with a hearty support.
HUMANE SOCIETY WILL RAISE FUNDS AT FAMILY THEATER
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 24, 1908
The Humane Society will have charge of the new Family Theater on St.
Louis Street Monday night. The theater, which was formerly known as
the Orpheum, has been remodeled throughout, the stage being enlarged
and four large ceiling fans installed, making this the coolest and
most up-to-date theater in town, and a most delightful place to
spend an evening. The program for Monday evening will include two
reels of motion pictures, a vaudeville offering entitled, “the
Strollers,” and illustrated songs rendered by the manager, Mr. Ed F.
McCrumish. Two performances will be given beginning at seven thirty.
Prices ten and twenty cents. The demands upon the Humane Society
treasury have been unusually heavy of late, and as a result the
funds are low. Through the generosity of Mr. McCrumish, this
opportunity for replenishing the treasury has been offered.
FAMILY THEATER OPENING
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, July 27, 1908
The Family Theater on St. Louis Street opened last night with an
excellent vaudeville company known as The Strollers in Chums, which
will be presented for three nights this week. A new bill will be put
on Thursday night, entitled, “when the Ticker Ticks.” The vaudeville
is good and clean, and in addition, there are some fine moving
pictures. The house was packed for both performances on the opening
night. This evening, the Humane Society will have charge of the box
office, and the proceeds of the evening will be used by them for
charitable purposes during the coming winter. The members of the
society will sell tickets and have general supervision over the
playhouse.
The interior of the theater has been remodeled throughout, and
presents a handsome appearance. The stage has been enlarged and
fitted with a curtain and scenery, and foot lights have been
installed. Four electric ceiling fans have been installed, and add
much in making the surroundings comfortable during the hot weather.
E. L. McCrumish is the resident manager of the theater. Vaudeville
is the chief feature, and the best talent possible is being secured.
An entire new bill will be presented each week. There will be two
performances each evening, the first commencing at 7:30, and the
second at 9 o’clock. No afternoon performances will be given.
THE FAMILY THEATER
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, August 11, 1908
This little playhouse has filled a long-felt want with our amusement
lovers. The management, at the time of their inauguration of this
theater, made promises regarding the safety, comfort, and caliber of
attractions to be offered by them that we were inclined to look upon
rather skeptically, but we are forced to admit that every promise
has been more than fulfilled. The ventilation is as near perfect as
money can make it, the entire upper part of the front of the house
being open, and the windows and doors of the stage arranged in the
same manner. Two large, 16-inch bracket fans have been installed
close to the ceiling, one over the proscenium of the stage and the
other near the center of the house. These fans act in the manner of
an exhaust, driving the hot air, which naturally rises to the
ceiling, out of the openings in the front of the theater, thus
enabling the four large ceiling fans to distribute the fresh air
entering from the main door and from the doors and windows of the
stage.
To the right of the stage is a fire exit, which will enable an
audience in case of fire to exit both from the front of the house
and over the stage from the rear. The theater is thoroughly scrubbed
and cleaned every day, and the aisles have been carpeted, making
them noiseless. These carpets are taken up daily and thoroughly
cleansed and aired before replacing them for the evening
performance. These precautions guarantee sanitary conditions.
Warren Catterlin & Co., the attraction for this and Wednesday
evenings, have become great favorites with Edwardsville theater
goers. They will present tonight and tomorrow night a playlet,
entitled “The Hills of Promise,” taken from the story of that name
in the August issue of the “Red Book” Magazine, and written
especially for this circuit. On Thursday and Friday evenings,
Frederick Walton & Co. will return with “The Fair Auctioneer,” the
playlet presented by them last Saturday evening, and which so many
are anxious to see. It is a brilliant comedy, and thoroughly pleased
the large audiences that were fortunate enough to see it and to
obtain admission last Saturday evening.
Such efforts as these are the causes of the success the management
of the Family Theater is enjoying, and we regret that their present
quarters are not larger to enable them to accommodate the large
attendance they so richly deserve and are unable to take care of.
SPECIAL MATINEE AT THE FAMILY THEATER
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, November 24, 1908
Tomorrow afternoon will see a special matinee at the Family Theater
on St. Louis Street, complimentary on the part of Manager McCrumish
to the ladies of the Humane Society. He has offered the society
their choice of three bills, and Miss Edna Jeffress, secretary of
the society, will select the attraction this evening. The stock
company will put it on in their best style, and the ladies of the
society are anticipating a large attendance.
There are two reasons why they may do so – first, the entertainment
will be excellent, and second, it is in a good cause, as all of the
proceeds will go toward the amelioration of the condition of the
needy. The doors will open at 2:00, and the performance commence at
3:00. Admission ten and twenty cents.
WILDEY
THEATER
The Wildey Theater, located at 252 N. Main Street in Edwardsville,
was built in 1909 through a partnership of the Edwardsville
Investment Company and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It was
designed by architect G. H. Kennerly, and named for Thomas Wildey,
the founder of the Odd Fellows organization in the United States.
The IOOF Hall was on the third floor of the three-story, brick
building. The second floor, called the Music Hall, was used for
small concerts and dances. The theater auditorium was located on the
ground floor, with two small storefronts on either side of the
entrance. The grand opening was held April 12, 1909.
The
Wildey could seat 1,150 patrons, which included 500 seats in the
auditorium, 300 seats in each of the two balconies, and 30 seats in
opera boxes on the sides of the auditorium. The first attempt the
Wildey made to add sound to film came in the early 1920s, according
to projectionist Andy Foehrkalb. A phonograph disc, six inches long
and three inches in diameter, would play pre-recorded sound effects.
“This was a novelty,” Andy stated, “and quickly faded out. ‘Talkies’
came into their own when sound was synchronized with film.” A
drawback to this method was that the film inevitably would be
destroyed. Before safety film gained wide acceptance, film was
highly flammable and brittle. Constant handling and exposure turned
the unprotected film to dust. To remedy the lack of synchronization,
which resulted from cutting unusable film from a movie, blank film
was spliced in its place. Sound was late coming to the Wildey, who
continued to show silent films until there were no more being
distributed. Foehrkalb further stated in 1971 that he showed stag
shows more respectable than some of the things being shown today.
“We would have been raided if we had shown movies like they have
today,” he said.
In the mid-1930s, the Wildey Theater underwent a major renovation,
with the grand opening being held January 17, 1937. A new marquee
was installed, and the interior changed from ornate Victorian to
modern Art Deco. After 1937, the theater was used primarily for
films, although community events were still held there. By 1984, the
theater fell on hard times and closed its doors with a showing of
“the Big Chill,” on March 8, 1984. The building was sold. Various
organizations and individuals tried to bring it back, but it proved
too large a task. In 1999, the theater was purchased by the City of
Edwardsville. The building was renovated, and on April 12, 2011, on
the 102nd anniversary of its original opening day, the Wildey opened
its doors to the public. The theater now has live theater, concerts,
and films.
WILDEY THEATER WILL BE EQUAL TO THOSE OF LARGE CITIES
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, March 5, 1909
According to the architect, the Wildey Theater, which will be
completed and placed in commission within thirty days, will be the
equal of theaters in large cities, and as a comparison, it is stated
that it has the same seating capacity as the Garrick in St. Louis.
The building right now is redolent, with the oror of fresh plaster.
Decorators are placing the elaborate stucco work that will outline
the balcony and the boxes, and it will not be long until the
auditorium, which is a gem, will be ready for the furnishings. The
investment company is figuring on a theatrical company of forty
people for the opening night, and it is a certainty that the
beautiful playhouse will be packed to its capacity on that occasion.
That those who have watched the progress, and those who have as yet
not seen the new structure may know exactly how it will appear when
finished, the architect, G. H. Kennerly of St. Louis, has penned the
following description:
The building is constructed of concrete foundation, brick walls, and
stone trimmings, even to the heavy stone cornice. The supporting
construction is of steel and iron. Over the main entrance is placed
a copper and glass Marquise, or shelter, which is to be brightly
illuminated by electricity, to bring out the fine carving.
Through the center of the building runs a spacious tiled vestibule
with highly ornamented walls and ceiling, which constitutes the
entrance to the auditorium. Tablets are let into the walls for the
bills of the current and coming attractions. On either side of this
vestibule is a storeroom. These two, and the entrance, take up the
front of the first floor of the building.
The vestibule leads into the lobby of the theater, a space
exquisitely decorated in modeled plaster relief and painting. To the
left is the box office, with ornamental bronze grill and marble
counter. To the right is the check or cloakroom, so located that it
may be used for the ballroom on the second floor, and the lodge room
on the third floor, as well as for the theater. To the rear of the
check room are the stairs to the ball and lodge rooms.
From the lobby entrance is obtained to the foyer to the main
auditorium of the theater on the first floor, which will be found is
spacious and furnished with divans, lounging couches, and the like.
Toilet rooms for ladies and gentlemen are provided on either side,
with tile floors and modern sanitary fixtures in every particular.
Leading from this foyer on each side of the main entrance are
stairways to
the first balcony. The gallery entrance is from the College Avenue
side, and is entirely separate from the main auditorium and balcony
entrances. The seats on the main floor and balcony have large,
comfortable space allotted to each, so that once installed, their
occupants will not be disturbed by others entering, as there will be
plenty of room to pass. The seats are to be well upholstered, and
have low backs. There are four boxes, accommodating six persons
each, and these will be elaborately draped and decorated and
provided with neat reed chairs. All of the floors will be carpeted
in dark green Brussels, and all draperies will be in harmony.
The building will be heated with pressure steam - the radiators
being recessed in the walls. Special attention has been paid to the
ventilation. In addition to the front and rear exits, there are
three on each side of the house on each floor, all of them six feet
or over in width.
The proscenium is modeled in a beautiful plastic relief with
concealed electric lights in plastic rosettes. The entire theater
will be decorated in shades of green, with pickings of old gold. The
ceilings are paneled over the proscenium boxes, and are to be
decorated by a high-class artist with symbolic figures or paintings
in addition to the paneling, highly ornamented ventilators, and
lighting fixtures, which will be installed.
The main floor will seat 500; the balcony seats 300; the gallery
300; and the boxes 50 – a total seating capacity of 1,150 without
aisle chairs.
The ventilating system is unsurpassed, the entire air of the theater
can be changed every three minutes. This also applies to the ball
and lodge rooms. The cubic contents of air per person is 24.7 feet,
which in accordance with the best medical opinion, Dr. Risley, is
perfect.
The curtain between the auditorium and stage is of heavy asbestos,
and in case of fire, the curtain can be lowered in a minute’s
notice, this with fore doors, etc., protecting the auditorium from
outside danger, will make the most skeptical at ease. Every electric
wire is encased in iron conduits, which eliminates the very often
cause of fire by crossed wires, defective electrical work, etc. The
lighting system is well panned, so one can read at ease in any part
of the house.
Iron fire escapes are provided for the balcony and gallery, and are
of ample size and properly placed. The entire house by ordinary
means can be emptied in two minutes, according to the architect.
The stage is of a size and equipment to accommodate any kind of
production. The proscenium is 32 feet by 24 feet; the gridiron is 55
feet in the air; the stage is 61 feet by 35 in the clear, and is
equipped with standpipes and all other appliances. The contract
provides for a full set of scenery draperies, curtains, and other
paraphernalia. The dressing rooms are under the stage.
The ballroom and banquet hall on the second floor of the front part
of the building are floored with narrow, white maple. In addition to
the usual conveniences, the ballroom has a well-appointed kitchen.
The orchestra stand is arranged like a miniature stage and
proscenium. The room is 46 by 50 feet, and will accommodate 200
couples.
The I. O. O. F. lodge room on the third floor, front portion of the
building is no less interesting than the other parts. It has ante
rooms, reception rooms, committee rooms, a large lobby, all
conveniently arranged. In the center of the lodge room is a large
dome, finished in plastic relief and decorated in manner to appeal
to the Odd Fellow. It is lighted by concealed bulbs. The lodge room
is 46 by 50 feet.
WILDEY THEATER OPENS ITS DOOR TO THE PUBLIC
Source: Edwardsville Intelligencer, April 13, 1909
The Wildey, Edwardsville’s new theater, was put in commission last
evening, and introduced to an admiring public, “A Girl at the Helm,”
a tuneful comedy with half a hundred people in the cast, was the
opening attraction, and was a very fair one, but that was merely
incidental. People wanted to see the theater, and show their
interest and approval. Needless to say, all were delighted.
The pretty playhouse glowed with light, which were reflected softly
from the delicate tones with which the interior is decorated. It was
a representative audience that thronged the auditorium and filled
all of the handsome boxes. Evening clothes, flowers, the flash of
jewels combined to heighten the effect of a scene that was
intoxicating in its beauty.
The Wildey, as has been said before, is the largest, roomiest, and
most convenient theater in this part of Illinois. It is not
congested or cramped anywhere. Its aisles are roomy, its open spaces
generous. It seats 1156 persons, and the exits are such that two
minutes is sufficient to empty the house. The visual angles are
perfect – the balcony and gallery being repressed for that purpose.
So much for the main auditorium. Back of the proscenium arch equal
care was exercised. The stage is 61 by 35 feet in the clear, and
from its floor to the gridiron overhead is 65 feet. A. Emerson Jones
and W. H. Konts, the manager and master mechanic of the company
which played last night, sighed with satisfaction when they stepped
out on the stage and looked about yesterday morning, and forthwith
ordered the entire contents of their baggage car brought up. “This
is the first time we have been able to use all our scenery since
leaving the Olympic,” said Konts.
In the boxes last evening were:
Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Griffin, Dr. Joseph Pogue and Miss Katharine
Pogue, Miss Winifred Hadley and C. W. Terry. Mr. and Mrs. L. D.
Lawash, Mrs. W. H. Jones, Miss Minnie Jones, Mrs. N. O. Nelson, Miss
Charlotte Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Brown and family. Dr. and Mrs.
R. S. Barnsback, Mrs. D. H. Brown. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Meyer,
Mrs. A. G. Taxhorn, Bruce and Hilda Taxhorn. G. H. Keanerly and
party of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Warnock, Mr. and Mrs. W. W.
Warnock, Miss Clara G. Burroughs, Mallory L. Burroughs.
WILDEY THEATRE, EDWARDSVILLE - NEW MANAGER
Source: New York Clipper, September 2, 1911
The Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, Illinois, which last season was
managed by William Sauvage of Alton, is now under management of the
Wildey Theatre Company, and has been since June, although the fact
was not made public until a few days ago. This season, once a week
on Sunday, is to be the rule, with as few exceptions as possible.
The theatre is equipped with a moving picture machine, and pictures
are shown at night when regular attractions are not booked.