Royal Theatre, Ashland

The Royal Theatre was a historic theater and movie house in Ashland, Wisconsin, United States. Built in 1914, it was one of several theaters in Ashland that showed silent films during the early twentieth century. The theater was owned by Abe and Louis Latts, along with Leon Schwager, and was designed by architect Henry Wildhagen, who designed buildings in northern Wisconsin, some of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two-story brick building features a three-part symmetrical facade in the Neoclassical Revival Style, with a finely detailed metal entablature, a protruding metal cornice with a central elliptical arch, a paneled frieze, and metal globes atop the central pilasters. Brownstone quoins and window sills accent the sides. Originally, a cast iron canopy with ornate light fixtures and the name "Royal Theatre" embossed on the front covered the central entrance. A life-sized bronze lion sculpture on a marble pedestal stood in the lobby, and lions were a recurring motif in the building's design. An Art Deco marquee with neon letters was added later and removed after the theater closed in 1957. In the 1960s, the building was converted into retail space and survived a fire during that decade. It is a contributing resource within the West Second Street Historic District of downtown Ashland.

The Royal Theatre was built in 1914 in Ashland, Wisconsin, as a vaudeville and movie theater. It was owned by Abe and Louis Latts, along with Leon Schwager. The building was designed by architect Henry Wildhagen, known for designing buildings in northern Wisconsin, some of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The theater was one of many in Ashland to show silent films during that era. The two-story brick building has a three-part symmetrical facade designed in the Neoclassical Revival Style. The finely detailed facade is united by a metal entablature featuring a protruding metal cornice with a central elliptical arch, a paneled frieze, and metal globes standing at the top of the central pilasters in the brickwork. Brownstone quoins at the sides and brownstone window sills add to the detailing. Originally, a cast iron canopy covered the central entrance, with ornate light fixtures on either side and the name "Royal Theatre" embossed on the front. A life-sized bronze sculpture of a lion on a marble pedestal stood in the lobby, and lions were featured throughout the overall design and motif of the building. An Art Deco marquee with neon letters was later added and was removed after the theater closed in 1957. In the 1960s, the building was converted into space for retail stores and survived a fire during that decade. The building is a contributing resource within the West Second Street Historic District of downtown Ashland.

• 1960

  The building is converted into retail space and survives a fire during the 1960s.

• 1957

  The theater closes; the Art Deco marquee with neon letters is later removed.

• 1914

  The Royal Theatre is built in Ashland, Wisconsin, as a vaudeville and movie theater.

Historic downtown entertainment venue in Ashland, Wisconsin.

Product categories. vaudeville performances · silent films · movie screenings

1. 1Royal Theatre, Ashland - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Royal Theatre (Ashland, Wisconsin) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org