On Tuesday morning, Azarian Wrecking continued the process of demolishing the long-vacant movie house on Washington Avenue, which opened in 1928.
On the morning of Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Azarian Wrecking continued the process of demolishing the long-vacant movie house on Washington Avenue, which opened in 1928.
Other photos and videos of Racine's historic movie theaters
They were elegant, much more so than the high-tech multi-plex movie theaters we have now. Take a look back at Racine's former movie palaces.
Digging for Capitol-Park Theater treasures: Take a look at what's left
Off the wall
Samuel Azarian on Thursday shows a part of a wall inside the Capitol-Park Theater that was ripped out for memorabilia.
Old newspapers
A rack of old newspapers bound in books is seen inside Park Theatre on Thursday. Samuel Azarian said people have been buying these items.
A dark hallway
Samuel Azarian walks through a hallway inside Park Theatre on Thursday. The hallway leads into the main stage.
Inside the theater
Morning light shines through a window at the main stage room of the Park Theatre on Thursday. "It's built like a bomb shelter," said Samuel Azarian of the building, which is primarily made of cement.
In photos: A look at Uptown's Majestic Theater
Majestic Theater - Exterior Detail
Two decorative "MT" stone medallions on the exterior of the Majestic Theater, 1430 Washington Ave. in Uptown, provide the observant with a visual clue to the building's former life. The Gothic-styled golden age movie palace, later operating as the Fox Uptown Theater, operated as a dual-use motion picture and live performance venue, with sporadic interruptions, from 1928 to 1959.
Majestic Theater - 2020 Exterior View
Long-stripped of its entrance marquee, the exterior of the Gothic-styled Majestic Theater, 1430 Washington Ave. at Ann Street in Uptown, today provides few visual clues to its storied history and the decaying grandeur that lies inside. The 1,300-seat circa-1928 movie palace, later renamed the Fox Uptown Theater, showed its last film in 1959. The theater, built to accommodate both motion pictures and live performances, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Majestic Theater - 1947 Special Engagement Performance
This Nov. 23, 1947 Fox Uptown Theater ad promotes an upcoming Dec. 1 live special engagement performance by the Metropolitan Opera's Lauritz Melchior, billed as "the world's greatest heroic tenor." Seats in the 1,300-seat auditorium were priced at $3.60 for main floor and first balcony, $2.40 for the second balcony and $1.20 for the third balcony.
Majestic Theater grand opening ad
May 1, 1928 Racine Journal-News ad announcing the May 2 grand opening of the Majestic Theater, 1430 Washington Ave. in Racine. The opening film was the 1927 silent romantic drama "Dress Parade."
Fox Uptown Theater - Nov. 23, 1947 ad
Nov. 23, 1947 ad for a double-billed feature at the Fox Uptown Theater at 1430 Washington Ave., Racine. Ticket-holders got their money's worth back in the day, with two films, newsreels, comedy shorts and cartoons.
Majestic Theater - Main Foyer Gothic Entrance to Theater Auditorium
May 1, 1928 drawing of one of the Gothic-styled entrances to the Majestic Theater's 1,300-seat auditorium.
Fox Uptown Theater - 1945 War Bond Show advertisement
June 16, 1945 ad for a War Bond show at the Fox Uptown Theater, 1430 Washington Ave., Racine. Opened in May 1928 as the Majestic Theater, the dual purpose, 1,300-seat theater offered both motion pictures and live performances.
Majestic Theater - 1928 Drawing of Main Entrance with Marquee
May 1, 1928 drawing of Majestic Theater entrance and marquee, 1430 Washington Ave., Racine.
Majestic Theater - Groined Arch and Balcony Section
May 1, 1928 drawing of decorative groined arch in Majestic Theater auditorium, showing a portion of the three-tiered balcony.
Majestic Theater - Organ Screen and Portion of Proscenium Arch
May 1, 1928 drawing of Majestic Theater organ screen and portion of Proscenium arch.
Majestic Theater - Grand Stairs and Main Foyer
May 1, 1928 drawing of Majestic Theater's grand staircase and main foyer.
