Queen Theater
Downtown Kalamazoo Theater (1907-1908)
West side of North Rose Street, south of West Water Street (117 North Rose Street), a storefront location formerly occupied by the Kalamazoo Laundry Company.
Opened as a nickel film theater on or about 23 November 1907, but failed after a few weeks of operation, and closed after its final show on 13 January 1908. Was the seventh such “amusement house” in Kalamazoo at the time, joining the Bijou , the Colonial , and the Vaudette motion picture theaters, the Academy of Music performance venue, the Majestic vaudeville house, and the Wonderland penny arcade, which were already in operation.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, 1908. Library of Congress
“When the Queen theater on North Rose street opens on November 23 Kalamazoo will have four moving picture theaters in operation—the Bijou, the Colonial, the Vaudette and the Queen. These in addition to the Academy, the new Majestic vaudeville house and lastly, the Wonderland penny arcade. Guess we won’t perish for want of amusement right away.”
—Kalamazoo Gazette , 17 November 1907
“The Queen opened about Thanksgiving time on North Rose street, spent but little if anything in advertising, and as a result prosperity, it is alleged, did not shower its blessings on the Queen and it quit business Monday night after the last show.”
—Kalamazoo Gazette , 15 January 1908
Sources
Information originally compiled in 1995 by J.P. Jenks. Additional information was later added by library staff. Information compiled from Kalamazoo City Directory listings, details obtained in researching newspaper reports published at the time by the Kalamazoo Gazette and Kalamazoo Telegraph Press , Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, Kalamazoo County Warranty Deeds and numerous other sources.
Updated October 2009.
Additional Resources
Books
A history of theater in Kalamazoo H 792 P694
Theater in Kalamazoo from 1860–1890 H 792 J65
Articles
“Seventh theater will open soon” Kalamazoo Gazette , 7 November 1907, p.4
“Dramatic” Kalamazoo Gazette , 17 November 1907, p.8
“Queen theater opens” Kalamazoo Gazette , 8 December 1907, p.3
“Panicky times hit five cent theaters” Kalamazoo Gazette , 15 January 1908, p.3
Local History Room Files
Subject File: Theater