A History of Riverside Theatre Milwaukee: One of the Grand Movie Theatres

The Riverside Theatre is the most opulent and graceful theatres of Milwaukee. This theatre had to fight since its opening on April 29, 1928 to keep the flanking Milwaukee River out of its basement.

When the Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) vaudeville circuit was searching for a bigger venue to replace their 1908 'Majestic Theatre', they bought this place, flattened and built this Riverside Theater that flanked on both sides by the river.

It was a presentation house that contained 2558 seats on the orchestra level. The architects were Charles Kirchoff and Thomas Rose. They built French decorative panorama in gilt and ivory and colors with peacock blue intonation. The ceiling was beautiful with giant dome at the centre and having a tri colored cove lighting concealed by cabochon faced crests. This grand attractiveness got perished in the year 1966 when a patron hurled a cigar onto the stage and everything got engulfed in the consequent fire.

Then there were plans to knock down the building and make it into either a shopping mall or a parking structure. But there were volunteers to Save the Riverside.

To maintain the river at bay, the basement walls were well set. Finally the Theatre had a Grand and magnificent re-opening in the year 1984 that was graced with the presence of thousands of people to enjoy the re-constructed, beautifully gilded and lighted grand movie theatre.

About Riverside Theatre Milwaukee

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History of Riverside Theatre Milwaukee

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Know the History of Riverside Theatre Milwaukee

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Riverside Theatre Milwaukee

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