Detailed Information

Auditorium in 1927

The 2,300-seat Kenosha Theatre opened 1st September 1927 with the silent film The Irresistible Lover (1927) , supported by vaudeville acts on the stage and music from the theatre’s organ.

The theatre was built at a cost of $750,000 formed part of the Milwaukee Theatre Circuit, and was commissioned by Carl Laemmle, co-founder of Universal Pictures.

The Kenosha was built in an Atmospheric style with a Spanish castle design, supposedly to resemble the Alcazar castle in Segovia, Spain, rumored to be the inspiration for Cinderella’s castle at Walt Disney World. The theatre was equipped with a 3-manual Wurlitzer theatre organ, opus 1696.

The theatre closed on 21st April 1963.

This theatre still stands today, but has suffered severe water damage. A new roof was placed on the building in the early-2000’s which has slowed the wear and tear of time. A non-profit group has again begun the process of fundraising to try to restore this building.