Schubert Theatre

The Schubert Theatre is a historic theater and former movie theater located in Gooding, Idaho, United States. Built in 1920 by Frank Gooding as a wedding gift for his daughter, the theater cost $60,000 to construct and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The building is a fairly simple two-story, two-part commercial block, three bays wide, with a seating capacity of 400. It is adorned with murals painted by Hugh Clausen, who also painted murals for the governor's mansion, and features gold-leafed crown molding. Sound equipment installed in 1930 allowed for "talkies" to be shown, though the theater still retains an orchestra pit and dressing rooms from its days of live entertainment. The theater received the 'Exhibitors Herald-World Award of Merit for the High Quality of Its Reproduction of Sound Pictures,' the only theater in Idaho to do so. Some style changes were made to the theater in 1946 and again in 1983. In the early 1980s, the theater transitioned into Gooding Cinemas. In 2009, the theater was purchased for $150,000 by Charmianne and Lonnie Leavell, a local couple who planned to restore the theater and turn it into a cultural center for the community of Gooding. The couple later donated the theater to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GREAT, Inc. (Gooding Restoration for Entertainment, Arts & Theater), which they formed to help in their goal. The Schubert Theatre received grants from the Idaho Heritage Trust in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. As of 2020, significant work had been done to restore the theater, including replacing the roof. However, work was still needed in electrical and plumbing to make the building functional. In 2021, progress was made with new drains and cleaning up flood damage. In 2023, the Idaho Heritage Trust assisted the theater in restoring the lobby. Some local residents believe that the theater is haunted.

The Schubert Theatre was built in 1920 by Frank Gooding as a wedding gift for his daughter, at a cost of $60,000. It is located in Gooding, Idaho, United States. The building is a fairly simple two-story, two-part commercial block, three bays wide. The theater seats 400 and is adorned with murals and gold-leafed crown molding. The murals were painted by Hugh Clausen, who also painted murals for the governor's mansion. Sound equipment installed in 1930 allowed for "talkies" to be shown, though the theater still has an orchestra pit and dressing rooms from its days of live entertainment. It received the 'Exhibitors Herald-World Award of Merit for the High Quality of Its Reproduction of Sound Pictures,' the only theater in Idaho to do so. Some style changes were made to the theater in 1946 and again in 1983. In the early 1980s, the theater transitioned into Gooding Cinemas. In 2004, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the theater was purchased for $150,000 by Charmianne and Lonnie Leavell, a local couple who planned to restore the theater and turn it into a cultural center for the community of Gooding. The couple later donated the theater to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, GREAT, Inc. (Gooding Restoration for Entertainment, Arts & Theater), a nonprofit they formed to help in their goal. The Schubert Theatre received grants from the Idaho Heritage Trust in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. As of 2020, significant work had been done to restore the theater, including replacing the roof. However, work was still needed in electrical and plumbing to make the building functional. In 2021, progress was made with new drains and cleaning up flood damage. In 2023, the Idaho Heritage Trust assisted the theater in restoring the lobby. Some local residents believe that the theater is haunted.

• 2023

  Idaho Heritage Trust assisted in restoring the lobby; received another grant.

• 2021

  Progress made with new drains and cleaning up flood damage.

• 2020

  Significant restoration work done, including replacing the roof; electrical and plumbing work still needed.

• 2016

  Received a grant from the Idaho Heritage Trust.

• 2009

  Purchased for $150,000 by Charmianne and Lonnie Leavell, who planned to restore it as a cultural center.

• 2004

  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1983

  Further style changes made to the theater.

• 1980

  The theater transitioned into Gooding Cinemas in the early 1980s.

• 1946

  Style changes made to the theater.

• 1930

  Sound equipment installed, allowing for "talkies" to be shown.

• 1920

  Built by Frank Gooding as a wedding gift for his daughter, costing $60,000.

A historic, community-oriented theater and former cinema undergoing restoration as a cultural center.

• Live theater performances

• Movie screenings (historically, including as Gooding Cinemas)

• Community cultural events (planned)

1. 1Schubert Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Schubert Theatre (Gooding, Idaho) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org