Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

 

Published - Sunday, April 20, 2008

La Crosse has been home to many movie theaters

By Tribune staff

Q: What are the names and addresses of all the movie theaters that have operated in La Crosse over the years?

A: In addition to Valley Square Theatres near the Valley View Mall, the following is a list of theaters that have shown movies in La Crosse. Many of the early theaters listed, especially those before 1920, were primarily vaudeville houses that occasionally showed the new-fangled motion pictures. The Casino and Strand theaters were likely the first to be built in La Crosse primarily for showing movies.

  • Bijou: 113-115 S. 3rd St., 1904-1938

  • Casino: 303 Main St., 1911-1827

  • Cinema I & II: 2032 Ward Ave., 1973-present

  • Dome: 815 Rose St., 1912-1919 (name changed to Rialto in 1919)

  • Dreamland: 1202 Caledonia St., 1912-1918

  • Fifth Avenue: 118 Fifth Avenue N., 1937-1958

  • Hollywood: 123 Fifth Ave. S., 1936-1989, 1993-2005

  • King: 216 S. Seventh St., 1972-2005

  • La Crosse: 115-121 Fifth Ave. S., 1889-1930

  • Lyric: 318 Main St., 1909-1915

  • Majestic: 516 Main St., 1910-1936, re-opened in 1936 as the Wisconsin Theatre

  • New Electric: 112 S. Fourth Street, 1909-1910

  • North Star Outdoor Drive-In: Hwys. 16 and OS, 1953-1986

  • Rialto: 815 Rose St., 1919-1921

  • Riviera: 1215 Caledonia St., 1920-1967

  • Rivoli: 111 N. Fourth St., 1920-1987, 1994-present

  • Star: 225 Main St., 1914-1916

  • Starlite Outdoor Drive-In: 32nd Street and Drive-In Road, 1949-1978

  • Strand: 1113 Jackson Street, 1916-1955

  • Unique: 114 S. Third St., 1906

  • Wisconsin: 516 Main St., 1936-1952 (destroyed by fire, December 28, 1952)

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