The Historical Kenosha Theatre

It would be September 1st 1927 that The Kenosha Theatre would open its doors to guests for its first vaudeville performance and a silent motion picture set to music by the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. The theatre was built by Universal Studios Chicago for Universal Studios and was commissioned by Carl Laemmle who had a reputation in the 1930’s to have produced some of the most iconic monsters and horror classics of all time with his son Carl Laemmle Jr. Horror films such as Dracula staring Bela Lugosi, Frankenstein staring Boris Karloff, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein.

The theatre had some memorable headliners such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, and Harry James to name a few. It served its community for 36 years before closing in 1963. Since then the theatre has stood a vacant and silent reminder of days gone by. The owner however will tell you about the lingering feeling and some strange occurrences that have happened inside the theatre which lead me to believe that though the theatre has been abandoned for 47 years, past guests have come to revisit a place they once shared a timeless memory at.

After sitting down with Jeff Baas one afternoon to discuss the history of the theatre we had also talked about it possibly being haunted by previous movie goers. He said that though for the most part he has only experienced a few minor things here and there he has been told stories by other people who have worked inside the theatre of possible unexplained phenomenon. He told me about how someone had said that they felt a sudden strong chill once inside the theatre. Another person claimed to have felt a breath on the back of there neck. Some have said they have heard strange noises that they could not clearly describe, and that did not sound like the building structure.


I have gone to the theatre a handful of times myself and I can say that being inside the building alone can feel a bit spooky. Though the fine craftsmanship that went into building this theatre has allowed it to remain in great structural condition after all these years of neglect, a broken roof and leaks have caused a lot of deterioration on the inside. The walls are cracked and the paint is chipping and has faded over the years. An old screen that once showed films, still hangs tattered and spoiled over the years of leaking rain just above the stage. The original chandlers once a beautiful plated gold has completely rusted and hangs from a broken ceiling. The bathrooms still have toilets and sinks, but are defunct. The building overall almost feels as though you have entered the Titanic. A once beautiful and living structure that held many wonderful memories of couples first dates, and anniversaries. Birthdays and Holidays and rumors of possible gangsters of that time catching a flick while passing through the city. Now it stands quiet, cold, forgotten, and left to waste and yet you can feel a definite energy within the theatre.

The first time I went I had experienced a couple strange noises in the upstairs area and a sudden feeling came over me at one point when I started to make my way up to the projector room that I should not. It was not an evil or very aggressive feeling, just a feeling of like I do not belong there or should not be there, like if you walked into the back room of a retail store where you do not belong. The second time I had gone I felt a sense of joy, but mixed with a feeling of being watched which is always a little unnerving. Again, it was not a negative feeling, just the awareness of me being there.

The theatre will be where Jeffery and I get married this year on Halloween and host a reception/costume party with a vampire ball theme. We are very excited to be able to use this historical and haunted building for such a memorable day. We hope that it will breath life back into the theatre once again and keep with it an energy of love and joy like its past patrons.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some of the photo's I took inside the theatre. I have set these photos up so that you can compare the photos I have taken to the ones taken by Life Magazine in 1938 when it was still a functioning theatre. [The Kenosha Theatre was the second theatre in the United States to play it's first audio film and Life Magazine was there to document the occasion.]























More of Life Magazine's images of The Kenosha Theatre can be found at this link:
http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Kenosha+theatre+source%3Alife&btnG=Search&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&start=0&biw=1280&bih=588

The Kenosha Theatre official website: http://www.kenoshatheatre.org/

~Crystal

NOM NOM NOM NOM!!!! >;)

I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

One of my projects for the wedding is making masquerade masks for our ceremony guests. Most of them I added some personal flair to for each guest which has been fun! The idea came to us when we decided to host the reception/costume party as a "Vampire Ball." I have got a fair share of them done thus far and hope to finish them today. Here is a glimpse of them.. :)

Kenosha Theater Directions/Map

You will all be receiving this information with your invites, but in case it is misplaced, I have posted the directions and map for future reference.


Kenosha Theatre:

5919 Sixth Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
ph (262) 658-2355


Directions:

Take Interstate 94 into Kenosha County and Exit on Highway 158. Head east on Highway 158 until it ends at Lake Michigan. Turn South on 6th Avenue and go 6 blocks to the intersection of 6th Avenue and 59th Street. Jog around the island at this intersection. Be careful not to angle off on to "6th Avenue A" but head due South on 6th Avenue. The Kenosha Theatre is the second building on the left once you come through this intersection. If you look up and see a highly ornamented facade and two bell towers, you know you're at "The Spanish Castle" which is the Kenosha Theatre.

Hotels in Kenosha

If you are traveling to Kenosha for the wedding and plan to drink alcohol at the reception but do not have a designated driver, we hope that you plan to stay at a hotel within the area. Here is a list I put together of hotels in that area with Rate/Contact info so that you can plan accordingly for the evening. The BEST option I put as the first option, it is the cheapest and is literally within walking distance of the theater.

1. Best Western Harborside Inn: [2 Minutes from Theater]
5125 6th Avenue, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140-3403
Phone: 262/658-3281
Rates: Standard Room for 1 night- $90.00

2. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites: [2 miles from the theater]
7887 94th Avenue • Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 53158
Phone: 262/942-6000
Rates: Standard Room for 1 night- $94.00

3. Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Kenosha: [4 miles from theater]
11800 108th Street, Pleasant Prairie Wisconsin 53158
Phone: 262/857-3377
Rates: Standard Room for 1 night: $119.00



If none of these appeal to you and you want to look at more options here is a link to a list of other hotels:

http://www.google.com/search?q=kenosha+wi+hotels&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Vampires In Love

Jeffery & I portrait.

Jeffery and I have made some MAJOR head way in the last month! We have completed 98% of our shopping for materials, we are just about done with all the invites and hope to have them mailed out by THIS Friday and we have both our wedding bands and outfits. We have what we plan to rent figured out and just need to put the money down for it which we hope to do next week and all that is really left at this point are the random little things here and there that you kinda forget along the way which wont be hard to complete.
It has been a bit stressful and times, but I have to say that I would NOT have done this any other way. It has given us complete control of how WE want things which in my opinion is a lot better than leaving it up to a planner who might really not share the same vision and mess it up. Not to mention we are both very creative people, so being able to work on the things that we have planned for the wedding has not only been FUN, but has given us creative release. I wont give to much away, because I really want some of the things to be a surprise, but I will say that I have made the center pieces and that thus far was my favorite thing to work on. I was a bit nervous at first thinking whatever I did would look like shit because I never had made a Halloween wreath before, but once I got started and the ideas came it was a lot of fun to put together! I am also GLAD we are getting as much done as we can this month to free up time to enjoy the Halloween season next month! :D I am very excited to be apart of Haunted Wisconsin this year and will enjoy going to all the haunts and having the chance to put in my 2 cents about them on the site! :) I am also very excited to start Halloween shopping and decorating the apartment! I just simply LOVE this time of the year!
Our wedding has been the main focus this last month however and we both are getting more and more excited for it as things start to come together. It is going to be pretty damn epic! :D