Theaters in Rushford

The following excerpts are from Dr. Alden O. Droivold's History of Rushford Volume VI: A View from Main Street, compiled by RAHS Director Kari Meyer. Copies are available to read or purchase at the depot.

ELITE THEATER - opened 1911

1909 - The first motion picture was shown in Rushford. The Electric Theatre Co. leased the opera house and provided "moral entertainment" for 10 cents.

1910 - The Elite Moving Picture Show by Eggen and Sundby provided motion pictures in Woodman Hall.

1911 - The Elite Theater moved to the SE corner of Mill and Jessie Streets, and Chas. Nichols became the new proprietor. A small orchestra provided theme music and sound effects for the silent movies. The cost was 5 cents for children and 10 cents for 12 and older.

1916 - Manager Radtke brought in up-to-the minute pictures from Paramount, Metro and Mutual.

1917 - Debt, railroad service issues and an ill wife, prompted Radtke to move the equipment in the middle of the night to his wife's grandfather, O.K. Quarve, who continued the theater in the Opera House at 106-108 Jessie Street.

1919 - Manager Quarve showed "The Americano" and "Fight for Millions" starring Douglas Fairbanks. Admission was 10 cents for children and 20 cents for adults.

1929 - Talking shows came to Rushford in February when Quarve secured Synchratone for the Opera House. The singing and talking pictures were shown for two days.

1930 - Rushford finally had a "talkie" show house when sound was permanently installed in the Opera House.

1937 - The grand opening of the Royal Theatre featured "Gold Diggers of 1937," "Reunion" and "Get Along Little Dogies."

1940 - The Royal Theatre was sold to Roy Palmquist. When Palmquist went into the military, Mrs. Lynda Quarve Noyes operated the theatre for five years. One of the pictures shown was "Roll on Texas Moon" with Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes.

1948 - Fire destroyed The Royal Theatre and other buildings. Arson was suspected, and Sheriff Donald Cook apprehended Richard Mortimer, a 24-year-old from Baraboo, Wisc., who was staying with relatives in the Rushford area. He confessed and was sentenced to seven to ten years.

1949 - Rushford Theatres Inc. was formed by Clarence Loerch, D.S. Prinzing and Roy Stephans. Matt Barry will manage. Art Bakken was contracted to build a theatre for $60,000. The newly constructed Trojan Theatre opened in August. Ticket prices were 40 cents for children and 50 cents for adults.

1951 - Matt Barry leases the theatre from Rushford Theaters Inc. and becomes the sole proprietor.

1954 - Warren Betzinger takes over the theater and runs high grade pictures.

1971 - Rushford teenagers take over. Successive groups of teenagers run the theater until 1975.

1975 - The Trojan Theater closes permanently.