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MAJESTIC THEATRE: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:THEATERHISTORY.png|left|thumb|250px|Theater History. Courtesy: Telegraph Herald]]
[[Image:majestic.gif|left|thumb|250px|Majestic Theater]]
[[Image:majestic.gif|left|thumb|250px|Majestic Theater]]
[[Image:tile.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This tile (8.5" x 14") was kilned in Holland for the roof of the Orpheum Theater. ]]MAJESTIC THEATER. Predecessor of the Orpheum Theater, the anchor of the [[FIVE FLAGS CIVIC CENTER]]. The earliest building was built on the site at Fourth and Main in 1840 by Emerson and Crider.  Here the Express and later the Herald were issued. This was called the "Democratic Corner." 
[[Image:tile.jpg|right|thumb|150px|This tile (8.5" x 14") was kilned in Holland for the roof of the Orpheum Theater. ]]MAJESTIC THEATER. The Majestic is the linear descendant of the [[ATHENAEUM]], a theater constructed in 1840 in a building erected in 1833 at the corner of Fourth and Main. The Athenaeum gave rise to an amazing list of theaters which could have ended on April 7, 1910 when fire destroyed the renovated [[BIJOU THEATER]]. Almost as the ashes were cooling, however, the site was developed as the first theater designed by the Chicago firm of C. W. Rapp and George Rapp, eventually the leading theater designers in the United States. (1)
[[Image:majth.png|left|thumb|250px|Advertisement.]]
The Majestic, built in 1910 at a cost of $90,000 by the [[DUBUQUE OPERA HOUSE COMPANY]] in the style of Renaissance-Flemish architecture, was said to be a replica of the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris. (2) Immediately popular, the theater had forty shows booked by the end of construction. (3) The theater was said to have had an audience of 14,000 the week of November 18th when it opened--one third of the city's population. (4) Audiences were held in suspense as to what might be featured next. As early as November, 1910 Rosenthal presented "Vallecita's Leopards," billed as the most sensational animal act before the public today." (5) When "Amateur Nights" were featured with the six usual vaudeville numbers and a farce by the entire company, the curtain was raised at 8:15 p.m (6) Among the stars who appeared on its stage were Ethel Barrymore and Eddie Cantor.  


In 1846 the building became the [[CITY HOTEL]]. It was repeatedly remodeled and renamed. This background made the location the record holder for having the longest history of being a theater site west of the [[MISSISSIPPI RIVER]].  
[[Image:syncopaters.png|left|thumb|350px|Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald]] Motion pictures were shown at the Majestic beginning in 1910 with each live performance. Movies were changed every Thursday and Sunday afternoon. (7) In June, 1917 the ''Telegraph-Herald'' featured a contest based on "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Interested children could clip a coupon from the newspaper and present it along with 15 cents to see the movie. When the movie was finished, they could write a short story on "What I Saw Through Captain Nemo's Submarine Window." Prizes were $5, $3, and $2. (8)


[[Image:imp044.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]After the fire destroyed the New Bijou, the site was quickly developed as the first theater designed by the Chicago firm of C. W. Rapp and George Rapp, eventually the leading theater designers in the United States. (1) Built in 1910 at a cost of $90,000 in the style of Renaissance-Flemish architecture, the Majestic was said to be a replica of a Paris theater. The theater was converted to a movie house in 1920.  
Music was considered important. In the age of silent movies, Earl Wood's Syncopaters provided the music to match the action on the screen. In 1917 an innovation was announced. The audience could enjoy an orchestra of five musicians playing at all performances--matinee and at nights. This was a change from the former practice of having three musicians at the week day matinees. Led by George H. Ramig, pianist and musical director at the Majestic for several years, the orchestra included Harry Durtina, violinist; Leo Jones, trombonist; John Jenney, cornetist (and father of the great [[JENNEY, Jack|Jack JENNEY]]; and Payson Berg, drummer. The increased cost of production including amusement tax, higher salaries for performers and the increase in the orchestra led to price increases. There was a five cent increase for main floor seats---from twenty to twenty-five cents. (9)


In 1929 Jake Rosenthal, a noted theater operator who had been with the theater since 1904, ended his history with the building.  He had renovated the building in the Bijou and later New Bijou. When the Majestic was constructed, he was responsible for bringing talking movies to the city. (2)  
Motion pictures and vaudeville ran as the regular bill until 1927 when a new feature was promoted--"Battle of Music." Two local orchestras were seated on platforms on the stage at the same time. One played a selection and then the other. At the conclusion, the audience judged which orchestra was the "hotter" and the recipient of a cash prize. The first "skirmish" featured Bud and his Vioni Orchestra and Don and his Rag-Time Pals. When first announced on March 9, 1927 enough local orchestras had been lined up for six consecutive Friday nights. After the schedule was exhausted, the winner of each Friday night would meet in a grand tournament. The prize was a professional engagement at the Majestic in addition to a cash prize. It was suggested that an invitation might be extended to orchestras from outside Dubuque. (10)


The building was renamed "The Spensley" when it opened November 16, 1929. (5) Its first program was a presentation of the talking motion picture, "Rio Rita." (5) Jack Dempsey, former heavy-weight champion boxer of the world, and his vaudeville act "A Roadside Razz" appeared at the theater in 1930. (3) The stage was turned into a huge cooking school with demonstrations of "ranges, refrigerators, and other culinary equipment" in 1933. (4)
From 1910 through 1934, [[SPENSLEY, Harker Brentnal, Sr.|Harker Brentnal Spensley, Sr.]] managed the Majestic and added the title of president in 1929 when it was renamed the [[SPENSLEY THEATER]].  


In 1932 even as the U.S. economy foundered, RKO, an American film production and distribution company, began buying up theater after theater to add to its exhibition chain. (6) RKO was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum (KAO) theater chains and Joseph P. Kennedy's Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) studio were brought together under the control of the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in October 1928. (6) The Dubuque theater, one of many purchased, became part of the RKO film theater circuit and was renamed the RKO Orpheum. (1)


By 1969 the Orpheum along with much of the area around Lower Main Street was suffering poor economic times.  The theater was scheduled for demolition as part of a twelve-block urban renewal project.  Led by such community activists as [[NORMAN, Wayne Andrew Sr.|Wayne Andrew NORMAN, Sr.]], a group developed the idea that private donations could be collected to renovate the theater into part of an exhibition-arts facility. The project was named for the five national flags that have flown over this area.
In December 1971 the fund drive was launched. In July 1972 architects were hired to design the facility.  In November 1972, the Orpheum was placed on the [[NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES]]. (1)  The theater was restored in 1975, renamed the Five Flags Theater and reopened March 13, 1976. With restoration, the main floor seats 322, the balcony 357, and the boxes 38 for a total of 717. The theater has been used annually for performances of the [[DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA]].
On August 17, 1976, an overwhelming 70% of the voters approved a bond referendum for the construction of the Five Flags Civic Center.  (1) Besides the arena, which covered 27,000 square feet of floor space and seats up to 4,000, the new plan called for theater support rooms, locker rooms, storage space, and  administrative offices.  The complex was connected to and designed to complement the restored theater. The new civic center opened its doors in 1979.
[[Image:interior-1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:interior-1.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:interior-2.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:interior-2.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:interior-3.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:interior-3.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Interior view]]
[[Image:bernhardt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Famous talent was regularly "booked" to perform. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]
[[Image:bernhardt.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Famous talent was regularly "booked" to perform. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]
[[Image:posterv.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]
[[Image:posterv.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Photo courtesy: Bob Reding]]
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Sources:  
Sources:  


1. "Theater at Fourth and Main," Online: http://fiveflagscenter.com/AboutUs/History.aspx
1. "Theater at Fourth and Main," Online: http://fiveflagscenter.com/AboutUs/History.aspx
 
2. "An Idea Whose Time Had Come," ''Telegraph Herald'', March 22, 1979, p. 25
 
3. Voight, Sandye. "New-Look Five Flags Shines," ''Telegraph Herald'', October 4, 2001, p. 11
 
4. "The Taste for Popular Amusements," ''The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', November 29, 1910, p. 9
 
5. "Majestic," ''Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', November 287, 1910, p. 27
 
6. "Amateurs Tonight," ''Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', March 1, 1912, p. 11
 
7. "Majestic," ''Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', December 17, 1910, p. 13
 
8. "Children Begin Clipping Coupons For Greatest Undersea Picture," ''Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', June 28, 1917, p. 7
 
9. "An Excellent Opening Bill," ''Dubuque Telegraph-Herald'', September 16, 1917


2. "Owners to Operate Majestic Theatre Beginning Sept. 1," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, Aug. 18, 1929, p. 27
10. "Majestic Theatre Will be Scene of 'Battle of Music,'" Telegraph-Herald, March 9, 1927, p. 4


3. "Dempsey Comes Here Wednesday," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, April 1, 1930, p. 5
11. "Chronology 1972," ''Telegraph Herald'', December 28, 1972, p. 20


4. "Make Spensley Theatre Ready for Cooking Demonstration," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, Apr. 11, 1933, p. 5


5. "Spensley Theatre to Open November 16th," Telegraph Herald and Times Journal, Nov. 10, 1929, p. 22


6. "RKO Pictures," Wikipedia. Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RKO_Pictures


[[Category: Theater]]
[[Category: Theater]]
[[Category: Postcards]]
[[Category: Postcards]]

Latest revision as of 20:00, 9 February 2018

Theater History. Courtesy: Telegraph Herald
Majestic Theater
This tile (8.5" x 14") was kilned in Holland for the roof of the Orpheum Theater.

MAJESTIC THEATER. The Majestic is the linear descendant of the ATHENAEUM, a theater constructed in 1840 in a building erected in 1833 at the corner of Fourth and Main. The Athenaeum gave rise to an amazing list of theaters which could have ended on April 7, 1910 when fire destroyed the renovated BIJOU THEATER. Almost as the ashes were cooling, however, the site was developed as the first theater designed by the Chicago firm of C. W. Rapp and George Rapp, eventually the leading theater designers in the United States. (1)

Advertisement.

The Majestic, built in 1910 at a cost of $90,000 by the DUBUQUE OPERA HOUSE COMPANY in the style of Renaissance-Flemish architecture, was said to be a replica of the famous Moulin Rouge in Paris. (2) Immediately popular, the theater had forty shows booked by the end of construction. (3) The theater was said to have had an audience of 14,000 the week of November 18th when it opened--one third of the city's population. (4) Audiences were held in suspense as to what might be featured next. As early as November, 1910 Rosenthal presented "Vallecita's Leopards," billed as the most sensational animal act before the public today." (5) When "Amateur Nights" were featured with the six usual vaudeville numbers and a farce by the entire company, the curtain was raised at 8:15 p.m (6) Among the stars who appeared on its stage were Ethel Barrymore and Eddie Cantor.

Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

Motion pictures were shown at the Majestic beginning in 1910 with each live performance. Movies were changed every Thursday and Sunday afternoon. (7) In June, 1917 the Telegraph-Herald featured a contest based on "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." Interested children could clip a coupon from the newspaper and present it along with 15 cents to see the movie. When the movie was finished, they could write a short story on "What I Saw Through Captain Nemo's Submarine Window." Prizes were $5, $3, and $2. (8)

Music was considered important. In the age of silent movies, Earl Wood's Syncopaters provided the music to match the action on the screen. In 1917 an innovation was announced. The audience could enjoy an orchestra of five musicians playing at all performances--matinee and at nights. This was a change from the former practice of having three musicians at the week day matinees. Led by George H. Ramig, pianist and musical director at the Majestic for several years, the orchestra included Harry Durtina, violinist; Leo Jones, trombonist; John Jenney, cornetist (and father of the great Jack JENNEY; and Payson Berg, drummer. The increased cost of production including amusement tax, higher salaries for performers and the increase in the orchestra led to price increases. There was a five cent increase for main floor seats---from twenty to twenty-five cents. (9)

Motion pictures and vaudeville ran as the regular bill until 1927 when a new feature was promoted--"Battle of Music." Two local orchestras were seated on platforms on the stage at the same time. One played a selection and then the other. At the conclusion, the audience judged which orchestra was the "hotter" and the recipient of a cash prize. The first "skirmish" featured Bud and his Vioni Orchestra and Don and his Rag-Time Pals. When first announced on March 9, 1927 enough local orchestras had been lined up for six consecutive Friday nights. After the schedule was exhausted, the winner of each Friday night would meet in a grand tournament. The prize was a professional engagement at the Majestic in addition to a cash prize. It was suggested that an invitation might be extended to orchestras from outside Dubuque. (10)

From 1910 through 1934, Harker Brentnal Spensley, Sr. managed the Majestic and added the title of president in 1929 when it was renamed the SPENSLEY THEATER.


Interior view
Interior view
Interior view
Famous talent was regularly "booked" to perform. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding
Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

---

Sources:

1. "Theater at Fourth and Main," Online: http://fiveflagscenter.com/AboutUs/History.aspx

2. "An Idea Whose Time Had Come," Telegraph Herald, March 22, 1979, p. 25

3. Voight, Sandye. "New-Look Five Flags Shines," Telegraph Herald, October 4, 2001, p. 11

4. "The Taste for Popular Amusements," The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, November 29, 1910, p. 9

5. "Majestic," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, November 287, 1910, p. 27

6. "Amateurs Tonight," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, March 1, 1912, p. 11

7. "Majestic," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, December 17, 1910, p. 13

8. "Children Begin Clipping Coupons For Greatest Undersea Picture," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, June 28, 1917, p. 7

9. "An Excellent Opening Bill," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, September 16, 1917

10. "Majestic Theatre Will be Scene of 'Battle of Music,'" Telegraph-Herald, March 9, 1927, p. 4

11. "Chronology 1972," Telegraph Herald, December 28, 1972, p. 20

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