lakesidecinemahistory

=Lakeside Cinema History=

Culver has had a number of theaters over the years. On September 19, 1923 the Culver Theatre (now known as Lakeside Cinema) was formally reopened. It is not known why it was ever closed, or when it was originally opened. The reopening took place on a Saturday night with a showing of Mary Pickford’s “[|Tess of the Storm Country]” Opening night prices were 15 and 35 cents, presumably for children and adults respectively. Regular prices were 10 and 25 cents.

In 1941 or even slightly before that time, the Lakeside Cinema was known as El Rancho Theatre. In August of 1946 a fire did $20,000 in damage to El Rancho Theatre. When it was reopened in November, the interior had been completely renovated.

This photo of El Rancho Theatre depicts a “junk matinee” to collect scrap for the WWII war effort. The owner Evert Hoesel is pictured. Notice the film marquee “[|Holiday Inn]” with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby! The photo is from the November 25, 1942 Culver Citizen.

In the 1950s, El Rancho was one of the few theaters in the US to utilize the audio technology that eventually evolved into today’s “surround sound.” The El Rancho theater served not only as an entertainment venue, but also as the site for some churches to meet during interim periods. In 1954, for example, when the existing [|St. Mary of the Lake] Catholic Church burned to the ground, the church met for Mass at the movie theater while funds were being raised to construct the current church.

It is not know when the El Rancho theater became Lakeside Cinema though the local history department at the [|Culver Public Library] is working on fleshing out the details surrounding the theater's history.

References: Roeder, Mark A., //A History of Culver and the Culver Military Academy//. iUniverse, Inc., New York, 1993. p. 101-102. Photo courtesy of [|Culver UT Public Library] : Local History Genealogy department.

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