Falls Theater

Falls Theater, formally known as The Falls Theater, is a historic movie theater in River Falls, Wisconsin, United States. The venue was developed after a 1926 fire destroyed three buildings on the west side of Main Street and prompted plans for a more modern local theater. Construction took place from January through July 1927, at a reported cost of $25,000. The theater was owned by Phil Ramer and Emil Carisch and leased to the George E. Miner Amusement Company for its first quarter-century of operation. The theater opened with a screening of Painting the Town. Its original facilities included leather seats, curtains intended to limit light and sound leakage, two bathrooms, and two projectors. Admission reportedly ranged from 10 to 25 cents. Unlike many later cinemas, it initially had no in-house concession service; patrons who wanted popcorn could buy it from a business across the street. A neon sign was added in 1936, becoming part of the theater's long-running visual identity. Falls Theater developed within an earlier local moviegoing tradition. River Falls' first theater, the Electric Theater Company, operated from May to July 1908 and was renamed The Gem in November 1909. The Gem showed films at three evening times and charged between five and ten cents. The Princess opened in 1911, ending The Gem's status as the town's only theater. The 1926 fire subsequently created the immediate impetus for the building that became Falls Theater. During World War II, management passed to Archie McClellan. In 1952, Jan and Agnes Morey of Minneapolis purchased the theater, then sold it three years later to Herbert Stolzman, a theater-business professional. Stolzman remodeled the front, installed a newer sign that remains associated with the building, and added a drink machine and an updated concession area. After 17 years, he sold the property to Stan McCulloch, who operated it until his death in January 2002. The theater remains owned and operated by the McCulloch family. Its facilities include a large stage and screen as well as a second, smaller screen completed in 2018. The venue's identity is rooted in continuity: it combines contemporary multi-screen exhibition with a surviving historic auditorium and decades of local ownership. Public reference material identifies it as an operating cinema serving River Falls rather than as part of a national theater chain.

River Falls had an early cinema culture before the construction of Falls Theater. The Electric Theater Company opened in 1908 and was renamed The Gem the following year. The Gem offered several evening showings at low admission prices and remained the town's only theater until The Princess opened in 1911. A major fire in 1926 destroyed three buildings on the west side of Main Street. The rebuilding effort led to plans for a larger and more modern theater. Falls Theater was constructed between January and July 1927 for $25,000. Phil Ramer and Emil Carisch owned the building, while the George E. Miner Amusement Company leased and operated it from 1927 to 1952. The opening program was Painting the Town. The initial design included leather seating, two projectors, bathrooms, and curtains to control light and noise. Admission was reported at 10 to 25 cents. The venue added a neon sign in 1936. It did not originally maintain a concession stand, although popcorn was available from a business across the street. Management changed during World War II, when Archie McClellan became manager. Jan and Agnes Morey of Minneapolis acquired the theater in 1952 and sold it three years later to Herbert Stolzman. Stolzman remodeled the facade, installed a newer sign that remained in place, and improved the concession facilities with a drink machine and a newer concession stand. After 17 years, Stolzman sold Falls Theater to Stan McCulloch. McCulloch operated the venue until his death in January 2002. Ownership and operation then continued with the McCulloch family. The theater later expanded its screening capacity with a second, smaller screen completed in 2018, while retaining its large stage and screen. Its history is therefore marked by repeated local ownership changes, incremental modernization, and continued operation as a community movie theater.

• 2018

  Second screen completed

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  A smaller second screening room was completed, expanding the venue beyond its original large auditorium.

• 2002

  McCulloch family continues operation

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  After Stan McCulloch's death in January, the theater remained under ownership and operation by his family.

• 1955

  Herbert Stolzman acquires the theater

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Stolzman purchased the venue and later remodeled its front, signage, and concession facilities.

• 1952

  Ownership changes to the Moreys

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Jan and Agnes Morey of Minneapolis purchased the theater after the original lease period ended.

• 1936

  Neon sign added

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The theater acquired a neon sign, strengthening its street presence and long-term visual identity.

• 1927

  Falls Theater opens

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  Construction ran from January to July. The theater opened with Painting the Town and was leased by the George E. Miner Amusement Company.

• 1926

  Fire prompts plans for a new theater

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  A fire destroyed three buildings on Main Street, helping trigger the development of a modern replacement theater.

• 1911

  The Princess opens

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Princess became River Falls' second documented theater, ending The Gem's position as the town's sole cinema.

• 1909

  Electric Theater Company becomes The Gem

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The earlier local theater was renamed The Gem in November and continued offering several evening showtimes.

• 1908

  First documented local movie theater opens

  [1]The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org

  The Electric Theater Company began operating in River Falls from May through July, establishing the town's early commercial movie exhibition.

A locally operated historic cinema combining traditional theater character with contemporary movie exhibition.

• Movie theater auditorium · 1927

  Main auditorium

  The theater's principal viewing space is described as a large stage and screen. It represents the historic core of the venue and supports the theater's continuing role as a local film-exhibition and live-stage entertainment site.

• Movie theater auditorium · 2018

  Second screening room

  A smaller second screen was completed in 2018. The additional room gave the independently operated theater greater scheduling flexibility while preserving the original large auditorium as its principal space.

• Refreshments

  Concessions

  The venue did not originally offer concessions on site, and popcorn could be purchased across the street. Later improvements under Herbert Stolzman added a drink machine and a newer concession stand, making refreshments part of the theater's in-house offer.

• 2018

  Addition of a second screenGeneration change

  Background

  The long-running single-auditorium venue needed additional screening capacity while retaining its historic primary theater.

  Action taken

  A smaller second screen was completed and added to the venue.

  Aftermath

  The theater continued operating with both its large stage-and-screen space and a smaller screening room.

  Source

1. 1The Falls Theateren.wikipedia.org