Theaters of Upper Alton, Illinois
Madison County ILGenWeb Coordinator - Beverly Bauser
Electric Theater at Rock Spring Park | Ouatoga/Mars/Gem Theater | Uptown/Cameo Theater
ELECTRIC THEATER AT ROCK SPRING PARK
The
Electric Theater in Upper Alton was located at the Rock Spring
Park. In 1896, Joseph F. Porter, President of the Alton Railway
and Illuminating Company, purchased land from Harry Marsh along
College Avenue, just west of Upper Alton. This land was known
for a rock spring, which was reportedly used by Indians and
early pioneers for drinking purposes. Porter planned on creating
a summer resort, with his electric streetcar bringing guests
from around the Alton area. He planted trees, shrubbery, and
flower gardens, and built a dam to create a small lake at the
park. Through the combined efforts of Joseph Porter and William
A. Sauvage, a small summer theater with a stage was built at the
park (on the east side of the lake), where live performances
were held. Over two thousand people attended the grand opening
of the park in June 1907. At the theater, live performers
thrilled the audience. Radcliff and Belmont, the world’s
greatest rifle shots, performed their feat by shooting small
objects in every position imaginable. There were also musical
comedians, clowns, trapeze performers and contortionists. The
theater had a capacity of 950 people, and was managed by J.
Edgar Collins. In the summer of 1907, the Electric Theater was
partially destroyed by fire, owing to the exploding of the film.
No one was injured. The damage amounted to about $500. The
building was razed.
In 1907, William Eliot Smith
(co-founder of the Illinois Glass Works in Alton, who owned
property next to the park) and Joseph Porter combined their land
and decided to give the property to the city of Alton to use as
a community park.
WILLIAM M. SAUVAGE WILL ESTABLISH A SUMMER PLAYHOUSE AT THE
PARK
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, April 17, 1900
Mr.
William M. Sauvage and Mr. Joseph F. Porter today announced they
will establish a summer theater at Rock Spring Park to be opened
about June 1, where plays will be given during the summer. A
theater to seat 1,000 people and with standing room for as many
more will be built on the east side of the lake and will be
approached by way of a rustle bridge over the lake. Tables will
be provided where ice cream and soft drinks can be served and
the place will be handsomely fitted up. Mr. Porter has leased a
strip of ground east of the park to make room for the theater.
OVER TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE VISITED ROCK SPRING PARK SUNDAY
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, June 18, 1907
It is
estimated that over two thousand people visited this beautiful
spot Sunday and Sunday night. The park begins to look like a
real White City. The theatre, the electric theatre, the Arcade,
the Merry-Go-Round, the Dance Hall, the Wonderland, the Shooting
Gallery, the Parlor Bowling, the Novelty Balls, the Ring Stand,
the Curio Shop, the Studio, the refreshment stand, were all well
patronized, affording all kinds of amusement for the visitors.
Hundreds of people witnessed the free balloon ascension at 5:30
p.m. This daring ride by Prof. Hill is considered to be one of
the best ascensions ever seen in Alton. The electric wire
walking is a great feature. Prof. Hills daring feat, the slide
for life, is a sensational act and should be seen by everybody.
The slide for life, the balloon ascension, the electric wire
walking, and many other high-class attractions are free. The
Rock Spring theatre presented one of the strongest and best
vaudeville performances ever given in Alton, every performer
handling his part very cleverly. Radcliff and Belmont, the
world's greatest rifle shots, do a very clever act, shooting at
small objects in every position imaginable. Their equal has
never been seen in Alton. Stemm and La Grange, musical
comedians, present an exceptionally good repertoire of musical
selections, playing on various different kinds of instruments,
bringing forth applause from everybody who hears them. The Great
Wagner, clown, trapeze and contortionist, does one of the best
trapeze acts ever seen in this country, introducing something
entirely new and never before seen in this city. Miss Helen
Stewart, lightning change artist, in singing and dancing
specialties, brings down the house. Delzell sisters, song and
dance artists, are very clever indeed, and present the audience
with a unique and up to date sketch of real good songs and
clever dances. Francisco and Crosse do a very clever sketch
entitled, "Morning Exercises." It is funny, especially the
dancing feature, which is exceptionally good. The Majestic Trio,
in a roaring afterpiece, "The Dutch Judge," hold the audience in
real tears of joy and laughter. All in all, the performances
given in this theatre by the above people are really recognized
to be the best vaudeville attraction ever placed on the stage of
any theatre at such a small admission price. The theatre is
built on a large scale, amply able to take care of the best
attractions, and the management assures the public that there
will be no time lost in securing at all times the very best
attractions obtainable. The theatre was filled to its seating
capacity at the Matinee and night performances yesterday. The
seating capacity of the theatre is 950 people, and there was a
little room left, which was also filled. The Temple theatre
orchestra is engaged to render music for the theatre for the
season.
J. Edgar Collins, general manager of the Rock
Spring Theatre and other concessions, including the Electric
Theatre and the Wonderland, is a manger of years of experience
and seems to know just what particular kind of attractions suit
the public, judging from the comments passed on the performances
given in Mr. Collins' theatre. It is an ideal spot to spend the
evening, cool breezes and plenty of attractions is the talk of
Rock Spring Park.
AMATEUR CONTEST AT ROCK SPRING THEATER
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, June 20, 1907
Fun! Fun! Fun! Big amateur
performance Friday night at Rock Spring Theatre. High class
vaudeville at Rock Spring theatre tonight. Children 10 cents.
Adults 20 cents. A prize will be given to the winner in the
amateur contest at the Rock Spring theatre Friday night.
GOOD PROGRAM AT ROCK SPRING PARK THEATER
Source: Alton
Evening Telegraph, July 8, 1907
A good list of attractions is
being offered this week at the Rock Spring park theatre. Ahearn
and Baxter, acrobatic comedians, are giving an excellent
entertainment. The "Huntress," who will give a second week here,
will show how he "makes up" as a woman in making his appearance
on the stage. There are still some who do not believe that the
"Huntress" is the man who claims to be the "woman" seen in the
acts on the Rock Spring park theater stage. There are two
juvenile performers in songs and dances which are highly
pleasing to women and children especially. Morris and Morris,
the two English eccentrics, is one of the best turns ever seen
in Alton. The Rock Spring park attractions are proving very
successful. The White Hussars band concert yesterday entertained
a large crowd.
ROCK SPRING THEATER
Source: New York Clipper, August 10,
1907
At Rock Spring Park (W. M. Sauvage, manager) Prof. Hill
with his balloon is the feature attraction this week. The Rock
Springs Theatre had a splendid bill week of July 28, including
Jeanette Adler and company, Romaine and Campbell, Claude Austin
and Hutchison and Lusby. Note - a new concern has been added to
Rock Springs Park, called 'The Congress of Novelties.'
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OUATOGA/MARS/GEM THEATER
On
April 9, 1913, William A. Clark of Upper Alton opened the
Ouatoga Theater, at 1662 Washington Avenue in Upper Alton. The
theater was just south of the W. A. Clark Drugstore, which was
located on the southwest corner of College and Washington
Avenues (where Walgreens is now located). The Ouatoga was Upper
Alton's first indoor movie theater. It was managed by Mr.
Reilly. On the second floor of the building was the Ouatoga
Hall, which was rented to the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, and the
Junior Order of Mechanics. The name of the Ouatoga was changed
to the Mars Theater in 1921.
In 1923, Frank Davis bought
the Mars Theater and remodeled the building and re-opened as the
250-seat Gem Theater. Movies were silent in the early days of
the Gem, with admission being 25 cents for adults, and 10 cents
for children. They showed a lot of westerns with Tom Mix and
Bill Hart. Frank’s son, “Bud” Davis, became manager of the Gem.
He and his three sisters played their violins in the orchestra
pit of the theater. The Gem was a popular place for the Western
Military cadets. Every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon they
came to the theater for entertainment. On Monday nights, the
theater gave away a dish, which for those who attended
regularly, soon added up to a full set of dishware. Frank Davis
sold the theater to a St. Louis businessman who also owned the
Norside Theater in North Alton. The building was torn razed in
1997 when the new Walgreens was constructed.
OUATOGA THEATRE READY FOR OPENING
Source: Alton Evening
Telegraph, April 8, 1913
All is ready for the opening of the
Ouatoga Theatre in Upper Alton. Manager Reilly having given the
final touches to the arrangements. The opening of the little
playhouse in Upper Alton is an event in the amusement world of
Alton, this being the first theatre in Upper Alton. Manager
Reilly will select with much care the pictures and the acts that
will appear in the theatre, and will make of it an educational
theatre where high class attractions, both in pictures and
otherwise, will always be found.
The opening bill at the
new Ouatoga Theatre is as follows: The Monopol Film Company
presents "As in a Looking Glass." Greatest dramatic production
ever conceived. Miss Marion Leonard was never seen to better
advantage than in this forcefully dramatic picture. The
character she plays is so side in its scope, so full of storm
and sunshine, that it gives her an almost unexampled chance to
use her great power of departing emotion. The spectator sitting
before the screen is held from first to last by the strong
affecting story so truthfully acted and by the indescribable
beauty of its backgrounds that have been photographed into
lovely pictures.
NEW OWNER OF OUATOGA WILL NOT PERMIT SABBATH SHOWS
Source:
Alton Evening Telegraph, August 13, 1921
The Ouatoga Theater,
Upper Alton's only movie house, has been closed and every
indication is that it will remain closed as far as theatrical
purposes are concerned. The new owner of the property, Frank
Hussey, says there absolutely shall be no Sunday picture shows
in the Ouatoga while he is the owner, and his position in this
matter has caused all negotiations for the lease of the theater
to be called off, as those who would like to conduct the theater
business in the Ouatoga claim it would be useless to attempt
such a thing if the best night of the week in the movie business
must be sacrificed. W. H. Weigler of Staunton, who managed the
Ouatoga theater a short time for W. A. Clark, before the latter
sold the property, has closed up the theater and has left Alton,
as he could make no agreement with the owner as to the Sunday
night shows. Mr. Hussey said the theater was run one Sunday
night after he had taken possession of the property on the first
day of August, but Mr. Weigler was the manager of the theater at
that time and he did not desire to cause any trouble as to the
one night's run when the old manager's lease had not expired.
After the one Sunday night, Mr. Hussey made it known to Weigler
that the place positively could not be used on Sunday night for
a theater. W. M. Sauvage was carrying on negotiations with Mr.
Hussey for the lease of the Ouatoga. It was stated that Mr.
Sauvage was very anxious to get hold of the Ouatoga, and it was
good news to Upper Alton people generally when it became known
that he was considering taking over the Ouatoga. The Sunday
night question, however, blocked the whole deal. Several other
people have been in Alton during the past ten days to lease the
Ouatoga and to put up a
first-class picture house in Upper Alton, but the Sunday night
question was a dead ender, and all negotiations for the lease of
the show house are off. W. A. Clark, the man who built the
Ouatoga and who has been conducting the business for a good many
year past, sold the theater along with the business corner to
Mr. Hussey, the purchaser taking charge the first of August. Mr.
Hussey bought the property for investment. He is the son of a
Baptist minister, the Rev. Simeon Hussey, was raised in Upper
Alton, and is a Shurtleff college graduate. The young man is a
teacher in Grover Cleveland high school in St. Louis. He is said
to be among the leading instructors in the city. Hussey said
today that his position on the Sunday question would no doubt
result in the abolishing of the Ouatoga in Upper Alton. In fact,
Mr. Hussey said, he has already made plans for using the
property for other business purposes. The closing of Upper
Alton's picture house is causing much comment there. Business
men in that section of the city consider it a serious blow to
the Seventh Ward. Programs were given on Wednesday and Saturday
afternoon at the Ouatoga for the Western Military cadets and the
picture show served to keep the cadets in Upper Alton on these
two afternoons when they are out of school, officials of the
institution not permitting the cadets to go down town or to get
on a street car or other kind of carrier. With this rule in
vogue, the Upper Alton business houses get the patronage of the
cadets. With the cadets to go down town to a show, this will
take the ice cream and candy trade of the cadets down town too,
it is asserted. Hussey says he has been approached by numerous
Upper Alton people who are very much interested in keeping the
picture house going in the Seventh Ward. He says he feels that
many owners of amusement places that are run on Sunday would
like to close up their _______ on that day if all the others who
run those places would do so, and he says he's going to be one
of those who closes up whether the other fellow does or not. Mr.
Hussey says he believes the time is not far away when the blue
laws will go into effect the country over. He says he has
offered many inducements to those who wanted to run the theater
to run it through the week with no Sunday show, but he says they
are all afraid of the proposition with no show on the night of
the week they consider the best.
DEAL FOR LEASING OF OUATOGA TO SYNDICATE IS ON
Source:
Alton Evening Telegraph, August 15, 1921
A deal is on for the
leasing of the Ouatoga Theater to a syndicate that owns a chain
of theaters through the country, and it was stated today by
George Hall of the Hall Realty Company, agents for the Hussey
property, that the deal is far enough along to guarantee its
completion. A poster was placed on the theater this morning
announcing the fact that it would open for business Thursday.
Mr. Hall, who handles the property for the Hussey family, says
there is a possibility of an arrangement being made by the
syndicate taking the lease to run religious pictures on Sunday
night. He thinks this arrangement could be made although it is
understood that the syndicate is willing to take the theater
with the understanding that there are to be no Sunday shows at
all. It is believed religious pictures would be a great drawing
card for the theater on Sundays, and that many people would
attend then who never do otherwise.
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UPTOWN/CAMEO THEATER
The
Uptown Theater in Upper Alton opened Saturday, January 18, 1936.
It was located on the west side of Washington Avenue, about
where O’Reilly Auto Parts is today. Opening day featured a
four-hour gala entertainment, with two motion pictures, comedy,
news, seven acts of vaudeville, and an 11-piece orchestra.
Seating 627 people in leather cushioned seats, the theater was
constructed on property formerly owned by Dr. J. P. Hale. The
brick building was 130 feet long and 42 feet wide, decorated in
front with glass and a canopy over the ticket booth. The
interior was finished in “modernistic style,” including air
conditioning and steam filtered heat. Joe Goldfarb was the owner
of the Uptown Theater and the Starlight Drive-In Theater in
Alton. Goldfarb came to the Wood River area in 1910, and was
employed at Standard Oil. In 1921 he moved to Upper Alton to
take over the ownership of a meat market. He also opened a dry
goods store in 1922, and built the old A&P Store on Washington
Avenue in Upper Alton. Goldfarb died in April 1975.
For thirty-one years the Uptown entertained young and old alike. In June 1967, the theater changed to the Cameo Theater. The building was razed in October 1988 to make way for a Hardees Restaurant (which has since been razed to make way for the O'Reilly Auto Parts).
