KINEMA BURNS

 

The Elite Theater was built in 1913.

In the late 1920s, L.C. and Nada Lund changed the name of the movie house to Star Theater.  Their son, Truxton, later took over the family business and changed the name Kinema. 

The theater, which was considered fireproof when it was built, burned down in 1990.

 Did you Know?  Kinema  is  the British Version of Cinema.    and there are or were hundreds of Kinema's across the United States and world. 

The word ‘cinema’ comes from ‘Kinema’-toscope and is derived from the Greek word kinema-matos meaning the science of pure motion.

  ..And I always thought that it was a cute expression of    "Kinna Ma Go to the Movies?"

Our Relic Home on the far left.

December 25th, 1912 the Elite Theatre, now the Star, presented their first show. Prior to this, some show places had been operat­ing, among them the one on State Street, conducted by C. Purring­ton.  History of Mt. Pleasant, Hilda Madsen Longsdorf p. 197 

Armory Hall1913 , Elite Theatre, Queen City Ball Room ~~~ Researched, Compiled and Updated by Tudy Barentsen Standlee

 

Queen City Ballroom

November 14, 1947

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Mt. Pleasant Pyramid
December 12, 1947

Mt. Pleasant Pyramid
March 26, 1948
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Mt. Pleasant Pyramid
November 26, 1948

Queen City Ballroom Fire 
February 1990

Kinema Fire

FIRE: February 10, 1990 - Photos by Alice Hafen

On this Saturday, I was working at the Spring City Post Office. I had left Mt. Pleasant about 6:30 a.m. I drove right past these buildings on my way to Spring City. Peter called me about 8:00 a.m. and asked if I had noticed anything unusual. And then he told me there had been this fire. We were all so very sad to see these buildings go. The Kinema Theatre had meant so much to all of us over the years. "Kinema" the name was taken from the question we would ask our mothers, "Kin i Ma, go to the movie show?"

Les Lund had operated the movie theater for many years and also a little radio shop next door. Later, his daughter Judy, and her husband, Rod Andersen came back to Mt. Pleasant to take over the theater. The sewing plant had employed many people for many years.

Also, Dr. Dean C. Rigby had his docotor's office in this complex for a short time. I remember having to go there to get my stitches taken out after an emergency appendectomy in about 1957.

This building was once the Mt. Pleasant Armory and also the Queen City Ballroom

Notice our Relic Home to the far left.

Just right of the Relic Home is Jacob's Mortuary which had served the people of Mt. Pleasant for two generations. Bent Hansen built the building and sold it to H. C. Jacobs. It was a beautiful building with a lot of filigree work on its exterior. It also housed an apartment in the rear.

Thanks to Alice Hafen, my mother in law, we have these pictures to share. Even though it was a sad occasion, we appreciate her efforts and desire to record the history of each event both happy and sad. . . . . .Kathy Hafen