Downtown Kalamazoo Theatres

Academy of Music (1882-1930)

East side of South Rose Street, across from Academy Street.

Built and run as a legitimate theatre from 8 May 1882 to 4 June 1919, then as a vaudeville and film house (renamed Regent) for several years after 31 August 1919. Theatre destroyed by fire on 11 June 1930.

Academy of Music Orchestra Leaders

• 1882 (May - October): William S. Bronson (resigned October 1882)
• 1882–1883: Stanley B. Morse
• 1883-1884: Stanley B. Morse
• 1884-1885: Stanley B. Morse
• 1885-1886: George B. Balcom, violin, director
• 1886-1887: George B. Balcom (resigned March 1887)
• 1887-1888: Max Faltkenhaus (of St. Louis)
• 1888-1889:
• 1889-1890: George B. Newell
• 1890-1891: George B. Newell
• 1891-1892: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1892-1893: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1893-1894: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1894-1895: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1895-1896: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1896-1897: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1897-1898: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1898-1899: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1899-1900: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1900-1901: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1901-1902: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1902-1903: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1903-1904: Eugene C. McElhany
• 1904-1905: George B. Newell
• 1905-1906: George B. Newell
• 1906-1907: George B. Newell
• 1907-1908: George B. Newell
• 1908-1909: George B. Newell
• 1909-1910: George B. Newell

Academy of Music Orchestra Membership

Acacemy of Music Orchestra 1883

• Prof. S. B. Morse, piano, director
• Prof. Martin of Battle Creek, first violin
• John Lounsbury, second violin
• Charles A. Skinkle, cornet
• Chester Z. Bronson, clarionette
• Frank Holton, trombone
• John H. Everard, double bass
• (Kalamazoo Telegraph 21 April 1883)

Academy of Music Orchestra 1891

• Chester Z. Bronson, clarinet, business manager
• Eugene C. McElhany, violin, conductor
• Sam Born, alto horn, treasurer
• Wallace S. White, alto horn, booking
• George Pfeiffer, violin, prompter
• Fred Shoecraft, cornet
• Fred W. Davis, cornet
• John Leak, tenor horn
• Hiram W. “Hi” Ballou, trombone
• J. F. Warner
• Fred C. Hayes
• Frank Newell, bass

Academy of Music Orchestra 1905

• Charles Wolff, leader
• Fred Curtis
• John Vlieken
• Miss Anna Walton
• Sam Strong (of South Haven)
• Chas. Parrent (of Lansing)

Academy of Music Orchestra 1909 

• George B. Newell, leader
• Hazel Belle Newell, piano
• Frank Newell, trombone
• Reyfsnyder, cornet
• Earl Putnam, clarinet
• Patrick McKee, drums
• Thomas Walton, bass
• Otto Schultz, flute
• (Kalamazoo Gazette 26 Aug 1909)

Downtown Kalamazoo Theatres: map and index