Lake Geneva is one of the popular getaway destinations for people looking to escape the bustle of Chicagoland. Like clockwork, around springtime, my mother and I would pick a week in August (as kids were going back to school) and solidify our jaunt.

We didn't have many plans other than eat, drink, swim, and explore. It was the best kind of vacation in that regard.

Being the die-hard movie buff I am, I still remember my excitement when I laid eyes on the Geneva 4 Theater. It was a sore for sight eyes at the time (no, I meant to phrase it that way). It was a decaying building on Lake Geneva's otherwise beautiful and stout Broad Street.

The very first photo I ever took of the theater, a dilapidated eyesore on the otherwise lively Broad Street. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
The very first photo I ever took of the theater (circa 2014), a dilapidated eyesore on the otherwise lively Broad Street. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

I remember spending much of that vacation (I want to say it was summer 2014) fiercely Googling and devouring all the information on it I could find. Funny how the mind wanders whenever you see an old, abandoned building.

I would've loved to have Pamela S. Meyers' exceptional account of its now 94-year history, which was published in 2021, back in the day.

So, because I have north of 200 pictures of the theater on multiple flash-drives, and I still wax nostalgic for this place regularly, here is a brief history of the Geneva 4 Theater. Stay tuned for a big gallery of some of my favorite images I've taken over the years as well!

The Geneva 4 Theater's Beginnings:

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

In 1928, a group of developers brought a brand new movie theater to Lake Geneva, WI. It was something of a unique concept the way it was conceived: in front of the screen would be a stage for live performances, such as vaudeville acts. The structure replaced a venue known as "Centennial Hall," erected in 1876. Later on, it was known as the "Ford Opera House," an epicenter of culture for the developing lake-town.

The massive, two-story structure (equipped with a balcony), was an attraction that seemed to outmatch the town's then-population of approximately 3,000. To accommodate live performances, a pipe organ was included in the building's development.

Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

The theater thrived for many decades, and also welcome a litany of acts. The Marx Brothers, Will Rogers, and Bela Lugosi all made appearances at the theater at one time. Lon Chaney, star of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925), movies proved to be a popular attraction too.

The 1980s and Further Developments:

A window shot of the theater's lobby pre-remodel. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
A window shot of the theater's lobby pre-remodel. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

Sometime in the 1980s, the owners of the Geneva 4 Theater purchased the building next door. Next door was, Frediani's, an ice-cream and soda-shop. It was a perfect complement to the adjacent movie theater. The property acquisition allowed the theater to expand to add another screen, so two movies could be shown concurrently.

Eventually, as commercial moviegoing became more accessible (and profitable), two additional screens were installed, replacing the balcony.

The Theater's Closure:

The following summer, my mother and I happened upon the Geneva 4 Theater on a day when a crew was cleaning. I managed to be Slick Rick; I snuck in and captured a handful of pictures (more in the gallery below). Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
The following summer, my mother and I happened upon the Geneva 4 Theater on a day when a crew was cleaning. I managed to be Slick Rick; I snuck in and captured a handful of pictures (more in the gallery below). Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

In 2010, the Geneva 4 Theater closed its doors. I wouldn't feast my own eyes on it until four years later. According to Meyers, local gossip suggested the theater would be razed in favor of a shopping mall. That plan obviously never materialized (blessed so). The theater just sat and decayed. Each year my mother and I would visit, it would seem to get worse. The infrastructure remained strong, but the pain chipped, some mold spots were evident, and the the decaying brick and façade worsened during brutal Wisconsin winters.

This is something else. The backdoor was left open the same day the cleaning crew was there. I snuck back there and found this wall of signatures, presumably signed by the cast of that year's play ("Hercules"). Man, is this a fascinating relic of history. I hope it's still there. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
This is something else. The backdoor was left open the same day the cleaning crew was there. I snuck back there and found this wall of signatures, presumably signed by the cast of that year's play ("Hercules"). Man, is this a fascinating relic of history. I hope it's still there. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

I remember thinking that there was no reason a commercial movie theater (even one relatively small, like this one) couldn't survive in this community. Forget the tourist-heavy spring and summertime; Lake Geneva is home to nearly 8,000 people. The nearest competition is a theater that merely shows two or three more movies than the Geneva 4.

The Theater's Reopening:

I'll never forget my excitement during the summer of 2016. I returned to Lake Geneva with my mother and saw the building was under construction. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
I'll never forget my excitement during the summer of 2016. I returned to Lake Geneva with my mother and saw the building was under construction. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

In 2016, the building was purchased by a new operator (Shad Branen) in Burlington, WI. Branen owns the Burlington Plaza Theatre, so it was a comforting thought to know that something of an expert was taking it over. Over $2 million was funneled into this historic staple, and it reopened on March 4th, 2017. Housing nearly 500 seats and four screens, the theater is modernized to the point where one of the screens retracts, giving way to a stage for live productions.

The new and improved Geneva 4 Theater. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
The new and improved Geneva 4 Theater. Photo Credit: Steve Pulaski
loading...

What's Next for Geneva 4?

Currently, the Geneva 4 Theater is being renovated once again. Big changes are coming. The rumor-mill suggests a taproom, although plans are in place for it to remain a theater. Whatever works, in my opinion. I'm just glad it still exists, thriving in a community that remains one of my favorite vacation spots.

Take a look Geneva 4's journey from rot to rehab to remodel below!

The Geneva 4 Theater (2014 - Present)

A look at Lake Geneva's legendary Geneva 4 Theater, which was built in 1928 and still shows movies to this day.

More From WDBQ-FM