ISHPEMING — Just 10 years after it opened with much fanfare, the Ishpeming Theater (aka Opera House) was in trouble.

“A meeting of the stockholders of the Ishpeming Theater company was held this week to discuss plans for saving the property, as the company is heavily in debt, the Miners’ National Bank having a mortgage on the place and the interest has not been paid for several years. About two thirds of the stock was represented at the meeting and those present were of the opinion that some plan could be devised whereby the building could be saved for theater purposes.

One of the plans suggested was that a new company be organized to assume the indebtedness and take over the property. Another suggestion was that the city buy the place as the theater is almost a necessity now and it would be difficult to get along without the place.” (Iron Ore, February 15, 1913)

“During the past few months, the motion pictures and vaudeville entertainments have been given the place has been earning some money. The big slump in the theatrical business all over the country has hit theatrical managers hard and many of them have been forced to cancel all shows and confine themselves to motion pictures, which is the form of amusement demanded by the patrons of theaters at present.” (Iron Ore, February 15, 1913)

“The Opera House company owes about $12,000 on the building and if this is not paid the place will be sold at auction to the highest bidder. It may be converted into a socialistic hall or be remodeled for a grocery business. No telling who may purchase it, but it is a very cheap piece of property for the price.

Its sale might leave Ishpeming without even a hall in which shows could be given, conventions held, and the amusement feature of the town be eliminated. It should not be permitted that this fine theater be lost for the small indebtedness which stands against it.” (Op-Ed, Iron Ore, March 1, 1913)

It should be noted that Ishpeming vigorously enforced the state prohibition on Sunday entertainment. Especially against moving pictures, they were seen by some churches as immoral and unfit entertainment. Since the weekends were when most families had free time, this meant the citizens of Ishpeming could not go to the theater on a Sunday, at least not in Ishpeming.

The common council was approached.

“Mr. Ed. Butler, being present, was given permission to address the council relative to the theater question. He stated that the theater building was about to be sold to satisfy the bond holders and he was afraid unless the city took some steps to procure the property and retain it for the purposes for which it was intended, it would go into other hands and it would lose its identity as a theater and that Ishpeming would then be without a proper playhouse for the best shows. And he said if the city allowed this to happen we would be taking a backward step that the people of this city could not very well afford; and he suggested to the council that they proceed to take such steps as would retain the theater for the uses for which it was originally built.” (Iron Ore, March 8, 1913)

The main problem with approaching the city was they moved too slow. They referred the matter to the mayor and city attorney, but with the chancery sale being published on April 15, there wasn’t enough time, as the theater would be sold on the 25th of April.

To add to the situation, the moving theater business in Ishpeming was undergoing a bit of a shake up.

“Charles B. Skiff, the manager of the Royal moving theater, in the Voelker block, took over the Lyric theater in the Quayle building on South Main street, and will succeed Zema & Herron, who have conducted the house for nearly a year and a half, in its management. Mr. Zema is to return to his former home in Cleveland, but Mr. Herron has obtained a position in an Ishpeming office and will remain here. The Royal theater has been closed.

The Royal theater has had a rather eventful history. It was opened some six or seven years ago as a moving picture house and it changed hands on an average of once a year during that period, although Mr. Skiff has had control of it for about a year and a half. The Lyric theater was established by D.E. Rice of Hancock who managed it for a year or more, selling out to Zema and Herron.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1913)

“Mr. Skiff is of the opinion that there is room in the city for two picture houses, including the Ishpeming theater, but he is satisfied from his experience the past year that three will not pay.” (Mining Journal, May 28, 1913)

“The Ishpeming theater, which has been heavily in debt ever since it was constructed some ten years ago, was sold by the sheriff on Monday morning to the Miners’ National bank, that institution having held a mortgage for over $10,000. The company owed a number of other parties in addition to the bank but the creditors will all be paid and the building will probably be disposed of by the bank in the near future.

The theater was never a paying proposition until the past winter when Manager Ed J. Butler commenced showing motion pictures every evening. For the past several months the institution has been earning several hundred dollars per month and a number of old debts were paid off. It is believed that the building would be a fine investment if it could be purchased from the bank for a sum in the neighborhood for which it was sold this week. The structure is well worth more than the bank paid for it, the original cost having been close to $40,000. It should be preserved for theater purposes and we believe that it will be as some means will be devised for keeping it for an opera house.

The picture business is now occupying the attention of most of the big theatrical managers as they fully realize that the public demands that sort of amusement and many famous actors are now acting for film companies.

Manager Butler has done a treat deal of experimenting in the picture line and he believes that he has devised a system whereby the local theater can be made to be a paying proposition.” (Iron Ore, May 3, 1913)

Ed Butler purchased the Ishpeming theater from the bank in July of 1913 and by November had finished redesigning and redecorating the theater.

“The improvement of the house reflects the purpose Manager Butler has cherished for years of giving, as soon as he was in a position to do it, the amusement seeking public of Negaunee and Ishpeming a theater that they could take pride in and that would be entitled to rank in convenience and attractiveness with the best of the theaters of the smaller cities of the Northwest.

The house will continue to offer the best amusement values it is practicable to present for the nominal admissions charged. Every effort will be made to secure the best of the vaudeville attractions that can be sent to cities of the size of Ishpeming and to keep the moving pictures programs varied and interesting.” (Mining Journal, November 8, 1913)