Ontonagon Theatre - Ontonagon MI

Address: 501 River Street
City: Ontonagon
State: MI
Zip: 49953
County: Ontonagon
Open: 1937
Capacity: 700
Owner History:
Theater Type: Small Town Movie Palace
Number of visits to this page: 12530
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

The original Rex and the Rex that became the Ontonagon were the same business but apparently not the same building. The August 27, 1937, issue of Boxoffice said that contracts had been let for the construction of a 600-seat theater for J.J. Clark, operator of the Rex Theatre in Ontonagon. The September 11, 1937, issue of Boxoffice said the new theater was under construction, and that owner John J. Clark was planning a formal opening to take place on Thanksgiving.

The October 9, 1937, issue listed “…J.J. Clark’s new 700-seat Ontonagon house….” in a list of recently opened theaters in the region, so it must have been completed ahead of schedule. The wording of the earlier articles suggests that the original Rex was not closed while the new theater was being built (though possibly this was just an omission) so it might have had a different address. A 1938 Boxoffice item indicates that the new house opened under the name Rex Theatre (though this could have been an error by the magazine.)

The September 30, 1950, issue of Boxoffice has an interesting item about El-Leen Clark, J.J.’s daughter, then assisting her father in running the Ontonagon Theatre. It says that her mother, Sarah, who had died the previous year, had been the projectionist at the theater for 30 years, so the original Pastime/Rex had probably opened no later than 1919.

The August 21 Boxoffice item said that the architect of the new theater was N. Albert Nelson. Nelson was also the architect of the Ironwood Theatre, Ironwood, Michigan. [Joe Vogel Cinema Treasures]

The theater operated in one form or another until the 1960's when it was closed. After that, the structure was converted to a bank in 1967.

Info Updates:
10/1/2003 - Unknown
This old downtowner doesnt look like much after being converted to a bank but it served the community well for over 30 years and may have been the only theatre in the county.
 Photos:15
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Auditorium Photo
Old Auditorium Photo
Ontonagon Theatre - Recent Pic
Recent Pic
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Photo
Old Photo
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Photo
Old Photo
Ontonagon Theatre - Ad As Rex
Ad As Rex
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Ad
Old Ad
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Ad
Old Ad
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Ad
Old Ad
Ontonagon Theatre - Old Ad
Old Ad
Ontonagon Theatre - 14 Apr 1914 Page 3 - The Calumet News
14 Apr 1914 Page 3 - The Calumet News
Ontonagon Theatre - April 21 1961 Article Manager Passes Away
April 21 1961 Article Manager Passes Away
Ontonagon Theatre - Jan 19 1955 Ad
Jan 19 1955 Ad
Ontonagon Theatre - May 10 1967 Article
May 10 1967 Article
Ontonagon Theatre - Oct 29 1957 Building Work
Oct 29 1957 Building Work
Ontonagon Theatre - Oct 30 1937 Opening Announcement
Oct 30 1937 Opening Announcement
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