website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown,
Wisconsin
Review article on
Watertown movie theaters
< PORTFOLIO OF PICS
Classic Theater
Towne Cinema
Towne Cinema = Town Treasure
1913 - 2013 = ONE HUNDRED YEARS
308 E
Main
This
image dates to 1928 -- that was when "Forbidden Hours" was released,
starring Rammon Novarro.
1873
DISTANT VIEW OF FUTURE LOCATION
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 POSITION
ON FEES FOR PANORAMIC VIEWS
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.
c.1915
-- -- EARLY EXTERIOR VIEW
1918
04 03 TO SELL POPCORN
Willis H. Norton, manager of the Classic theatre, received
today an up-to-date popcorn and peanut vending machine, which he recently
purchased in Chicago. The new outfit has
all modern improvements and is operated by electricity. Patrons will be given the best of goods and
service. The Watertown News
CROSS-PROMOTION
BETWEEN MOVIE HOUSES
Movie on Wednesday at the Majestic to end in time to take in
second movie at the Classic.
1922
10 19 MOTION PICTURES
ARE CRITICIZED BY Dr. FLEMING
"When the devil realized
that the saloon's days were numbered he dug down somewhat deeper in hell than
he had gone to find the saloon and brought up to take its place the corrupt
commercial motion picture."
- Dr. Fleming last night at the Methodist
Church. . . . . .
1920s
1920s, 308 E Main
1922
07/19 MOVING PICTURES
OF WATERTOWN WILL BE SHOWN HERE
The Jewett- Paige motion picture
squad and demonstrators of Milwaukee here in the city Tuesday and today taking
moving pictures of this city which will be shown at the theatre here at a later
date. The Jewett tour which has toured
all over Wisconsin and upper Michigan are making a film of almost national
impact. Many state doings, the greatest
industries, the highways and our beauty wonders will be shown in the film. Educational and progressive propaganda with a
few amusing comedy scenes make this film a boast for every city in Wisconsin
and upper Michigan. The tour is
sponsored by Mr. Harry DeBoer, President, Paige Wisconsin Co. of Milwaukee. B. E. Strauss is the local distributor. Scenes "shot" here Tuesday included
the water tower hill, Riverside park, Catholic Women’s Club picnic, the
Jefferson Road, Rock river scene, Boughton bridge and Main Street.
1924
1927 1927 Letter to the Classic Theatre,
from the Pathe Exchange
The Kellogg company used Hal Roach’s “Our Gang”
to promote its new cereal, Kellogg’s Pep.
WHS_006_817 
A mild laxative
The Kellogg Company is now
distributing a new article called “PEP” . . . in which they are exploiting “OUR GANG” comedies . . . The
Kellogg Company will send a representative to your theatre for the purpose of
perfecting a tieup with a grocer in your neighborhood . . . Letter suggests a course of action by which
the Classic could secure “additional and earlier bookings on OUR GANG
comedies.”
Classic Theater, c.1927, Quality Street
with Marian Davies was released in 1927
09 20 NEW KILGEN
ORGAN
New Kilgen unit organ is to replace
the present organ at the Classic and also a new front. A new canopy extending over the sidewalk in
front of both the theatre entrance proper and the Classic Sweet Shop is
proposed. The matter is now pending
before the City Council for approval. A
huge electric sign running from the top of the building to the canopy is also
part of the plan.
10 05 LARGEST THEATRE
CANOPY IN THE STATE
The canopy will be the largest of
its kind in the State of Wisconsin. It is
to extend 7 feet from the building and is 40 feet long and is to be set off by
an array of electric signs whose illuminated letters will carry the message of
the attractions to be offered.
1928
09/10 CLASSIC THEATER PROGRAM
GILDA GRAY AT THE CLASSIC
Gilda
Gray (famous for The Shimmy) in the Nov 1927 silent film “The Devil
Dancer.” Gilda Gray was born as Marianna
Michalska in Kraków, Austria-Hungary in 1901 to Max and Wanda Michalski, who
emigrated to the United States in 1909 and settled in Milwaukee.
-- -- FRANK BELLMAN
Frank W. Bellman, organist at the Classic theatre, Watertown,
Wis., for over four years, is now organist at the Bryn Mawr theatre, Chicago.
Mr. Bellman was succeeded by M. A. Knudson, who has played at a number of
theatres in Milwaukee.
1930
05 19 CLASSIC SWEET
SHOP MOVES
Classic Sweet Shop moves to 414 East Main Street, the building formerly
occupied by the Brumm Electric Shop.
The move was made necessary due to the remodeling
of the Classic theatre. The enlargement
of the lobby will cover the width of the present lobby and that formerly
occupied by the sweet shop.
11 21 SODA GRILL AND
TEA ROOM
The Betsy Ross Soda Grill and Tea Room, a new enterprise here, will open
in the Classic Theater building Saturday morning, 11/22/1930
1932
08 29 SIAMESE TWINS AND WIVES TO APPEAR
Simplicio and Lucia Godina, the only male Siamese twins in the world,
arrived in the city today with their wives and are staying at the New Commercial hotel during their two day
visit here. The pair will appear tonight
and Tuesday night at the Classic Theatre, as well as for a special matinee on
Tuesday afternoon.
No sooner had the twins arrived here with their wives and become settled
at the hotel when they went out for a drive in their automobile to see the
city. Being joined together since birth
has proven only a slight handicap, for they have both received a liberal
education and are widely traveled and cultured.
They enjoy driving a car and seeing the country. They speak English with an accent.
At the matinee tomorrow they desire to meet all the twins who have
received free tickets for the performance through the Daily Times office.
-- -- OSCAR BAUMANN AIDS DENTIST
Mention of Oscar E. Baumann,
manager of the Classic Theatre; comes to aid of Dr. R. J. Buss, Watertown
dentist.
-- -- EXTERIOR VIEW
1936
09 29 BATS ADD
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Herbert Borchardt is in charge of the Classic Theatre after 9:30 o'clock
when Oscar Baumann knocks off work.
During the past summer months Herb was kept busy killing bats which
found their way into the theatre lobby.
Now and then one gets past him and into the auditorium proper where it
would flit across the screen, much to the alarm of women patrons in the place
who at times grew uneasy, fearing that the bats would get into their hair.
But Herb was right
on the job and with a specially designed net knocked them out and then killed
them. The bats, not the women, we mean.
1937
Movie
playing was “In Old
Chicago”
1939
MEINHARDT
RAABE, “LITTLE OSCAR” AND THE WEINERMOBILE
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.
The young boy in the
pic is Dennis
Draginis, who had a strong connection to the theater business in
Watertown. The local theater was
purchased by the Draginis family in the 1920s.
For many years it was managed by Oscar Baumann. Somewhere around 1960 Dennis Draginis took
over management of the business for the family and continued in that role until
1972 when it was sold to Joseph Reynolds.
11 13 NEWSREEL
FILM BEING MADE IN CITY
A unique and fascinating motion picture program was announced today by
the management of the Classic Theatre in connection with the filming of a
picture, "Life In Watertown" which is being produced here this week
and which will be shown at the theatre next week. A crew of newsreel camera men, including a
woman, will photograph in natural colors, a cross view of life and background
in Watertown. This group has produced
similar pictures in other cities and recently completed films of life in Fond
du Lac, Manitowoc, Marinette and other state cities. The producers are working in cooperation with
local organizations.
In addition to the general city scenes, they will also include a
Hollywood screen test which will be open to young women between 16 and 25.
Filming will start tomorrow
and will be shown as a full-length feature at the Classic next week Wednesday,
Thursday & Friday, November 22, 23 & 24.
1941
01 13 KATHERINE HEPBURN STOPS IN WATERTOWN
Miss Hepburn Pays City Brief
Call
Famous stage and screen star
stops here on auto trip.
Katherine Hepburn,
celebrated stage and screen star, paid Watertown a brief visit yesterday. She was accompanied by Louis Orlove of
Milwaukee, the Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Picture representative for Wisconsin.
Miss Hepburn was enroute to
Madison and stopped here to call at the office of Oscar Baumann, manager of the
Classic Theatre.
However, she and Mr. Orlove
missed seeing Mr. Baumann, since he was not at his office when they called
shortly before noon. T
The star talked to Mrs.
Howard Kramp of the Sally Ann Bakery [306 East Main] which adjoins the Classic
Theatre and left a note for Mr. Baumann.
Miss Hepburn wore a slack
suit and a turban.
1944
1948
11 27 CLASSIC THEATRE IMPROVEMENTS NEAR
FINISH
The new entrance to the Classic Theatre is undergoing
extensive remodeling and redecorating.
The new ticket window is enclosed in glass, part of
the new front. The theatre marquee is of
the latest design and lights up brilliantly with some 3000 electric bulbs,
including flasher type bulbs which give part of the huge sign the appearance of
"running ribbons" of light.
Work on the lobby, with its indirect lighting, has about been completed
and decorating is now underway in the theatre auditorium.
New carpeting will be laid as soon as the other work
permits installation.
A new men's lounge and smoking room has been located
in the basement quarters of the building, while the women's restroom and lounge
are located off the lobby on the main floor.
An inside entrance leads to the projection booths and
the offices of Oscar Baumann, Classic Theatre manager.
A new candy and confection counter has been installed.
08 21 BACK-TO-SCHOOL MOVIE PARTY
[1] 
[2]
Nearly 900 kids attended the Classic
Theater for a Roy Rogers western, three cartoons and two comedies, sponsored by
J. C. Penney store. Pictured [1] lined
up on west side of Penney store, corner of E. Main and S. Second streets,
preparatory to leaving for the theater and [2] parading along 200 block of East
Main, on way to the Classic.
c.1955
c.1957,
308 E Main, 1950s-70s city assessor image, WHS_006_041b
c.1957, 308 E Main, 1950s-70s city assessor form, WHS_006_041a
"Mayor"
Frank Nissen changed the letters on the sign, commuting
from
Oconomowoc to do his job, sometimes with interesting typos.
1950s
1959
04 22 OSCAR BAUMANN RETIREMENT
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
OSCAR BAUMANN HOME
(1952 photo of home)
1960s
1961
07 01 DOC SCHMEICHEL
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
1967
04 04 CLASSIC THEATRE MARQUEE REMOVED
One of the structures along Main Street that will have
to be set back to conform with the widening of the street as a state-city
project this spring is the Classic theatre marquee, since, in its present form,
it would overlap into the street when the street is widened and the sidewalk
area is cut down. H. M. Dakin, attorney
for Watertown Amusement Enterprises, owners and operators of the theatre,
informed the council by letter that the theatre will seek and hopes for
adequate compensation from the city to help defray the expenses of removing the
marquee and reconstructing it so it will not interfere with activities in the
street in front of the theatre.
10 30 NEW MARQUEE
1990
01 28 CHANGE
OF OWNERSHIP AND REMODELING
Local movie buffs may have a
difficult time recognizing Watertown’s Towne Theater when it opens its doors
Feb. 16 following a change of ownership and a thorough remodeling effort. “It should look completely and altogether
different when we open,” said new owner Gary Goebel of Sturgeon Bay. “It needs a lot of work. I’m sure I’ll put
more money into it than I paid for it before we’re all finished.” Goebel purchased the theater Jan. 8 from
Milwaukee’s Joe Reynolds. He also owns theaters in Sturgeon Bay and Bailey’s
Harbor, both in Door County, as well as a theater complex in Crestview,
Fla. 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 RE-OPENING
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.
2013 TOWNE CINEMA KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN
Need to replace film projectors
with digital machines in time for Hollywood’s complete conversion to digital
projection later this year or downtown theater has to close. Goal is the raising of $70,000 toward the purchase
of digital projectors. In October the
theater will turn 100 years old. Video file
05 07 TOWNE CINEMA GOES OVER $70,000 IN DONATIONS
Cinema 101 percent funded at
$71,211 of its $70,000 Kickstarter goal.
Backers numbered 561 over 60 days.
The success means the theater will be able to move ahead into the
digital age of cinema with the purchase at least two digital projectors as
Hollywood ceases issuing its movies on film, opting to go with digital
presentations.
10 20 A COMMUNITY SAVES THE TOWNE
The Towne Cinema shouldn’t be in
business, especially when the price of a ticket is only $3. Remarkably, this theater . . . is making a go
of it in this city’s downtown. A successful
fundraising effort means the show will go on for years to come at the
Towne. Wisconsin
State Journal article YouTube video clip
2015
08 26 100th ANNIVERSARY OF
MEINHARDT RABBE’S BIRTH
Theme of the celebration is, “There’s No
Place Like Home.”
The Towne Cinema will
be hosting a four day celebration of the life of
Meinhardt Raabe, who was the Munchkin Coroner in “The Wizard of Oz” with
free showings of the iconic movie to coincide with the 100th anniversary of
Rabbe’s birth. Raabe was born in
Watertown, raised in Farmington, went to high school in Johnson Creek, attended
the former Northwestern College in Watertown and went on to graduate from the
University of Wisconsin- Madison.
There will be four free
showings of the “Wizard of Oz” on Wednesday, Sept. 2 and Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7
p.m., Friday, Sept. 4 at noon and 7 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 5 at noon. On
Sept. 2 before the 6:30 p.m. showing there will be a birthday cake celebration.
Sept. 2 would have been Raabe’s 100th birthday.
He was born in 1915.
A birthday cake with
100 candles along with some group singing will take place. One hundred cupcakes from Sweet Talkin’
Treats will be given away in honor of Raabe. Oz costumes are encouraged.
The Oscar Mayer
Weinermobile will be in attendance at the event on Wednesday. Raabe toured the country for 30 years in the
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, promoting hot dogs as Little Oscar, the World’s
Smallest Chef. He retired in 1971.
Cross References:
There's no place like Main Street
to remember Meinhardt Raabe.
Madison.com article
Munchkin
coroner recalled on 100th. Daily Union article
Celebration
over the rainbow ... WDTimes article
08 26 CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF WILLIAM
WESLEY YOUNG
Towne Cinema be hosting an evening
that celebrates the life of William Wesley Young and his silent film,
"Alice In Wonderland" on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. The event will be held in honor of the 100th
anniversary of the film's release in 1915.
This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis
Carroll's classic book, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," the book
on which the movie was based. W.W. Young
was a native of Monroe and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where
he founded the student newspaper The
Daily Cardinal in 1892. He went on to be the UW-Madison's first journalism
major. WDTimes article
2017
12 11 SILENT MOVIE FEATURED
For 78 minutes
Buster Keaton ran, jumped, hung, dove and tumbled across Towne Cinema’s screen
in the 1928 classic “The Cameraman.”
David Drazin, seated at an electric piano at the front left of the
180-seat theater, stared at the screen and played electric piano music to
the Buster Keaton film. Wisconsin State Journal article
06 22 TOWNE CINEMA TO REOPEN AFTER LOCKDOWN
After extensive
planning and cleaning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the Towne
Cinema is set to reopen July 3. The
theater has been conducting a GoFundMe campaign to stay afloat during the
coronavirus shutdown and to take care of necessary repairs to the historic
structure that sits in the heart of downtown Watertown. Changes that patrons will see upon returning
to the cinema will be that the main theater, known as the Remax and CMN
theater, was repainted. The women’s
bathroom was repainted and the concession stand is being upgraded to include
some room for possible growth in menu options.
There will be suggestions
that patrons wear masks in the theater, although at this point, it is not
required. The soda station will no longer be facing the
customer and will instead be filled by our employees. Once a customer walks through the lobby to
the theater they are going into, they will see that staff has sectioned off
every other row in front of each screen.
One other thing that
customers will notice is that there will be a lot of local ads packed into the
30 minutes before every movie. Towne
Cinema is looking to help local businesses that were, and still are, being affected,
by offering them free advertising on the big screens for the first three
months.
2021
12 08 TOWNE
CINEMA RECEIVING $43,859
Several area theaters —
including Watertown’s Towne Cinema, Jefferson’s Highway 18 Outdoor Theater and
Janesville’s Rosebud Partners LLC — will receive state assistance as they try
to return to more normal operations in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and a
changing movie industry. Watertown’s
Towne Cinema is receiving $43,859 as part of $10 million in grants that have
been awarded to movie theaters, summer camps and minor league sports teams
throughout the state
< PORTFOLIO OF PICS
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
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin