Movies

Waukesha's first theater dedicated to the new technology of Motion Pictures was built in 1906. The Empire, as it was called, lived on the current location of Downtown Waukesha's Pix Theater. It could seat 60 people, and quickly became one of Waukesha's most popular attractions.

Two years later, in 1908 the Empire's first competition, the Unique Theater, was opened. Located at 322 W. Main St. it could seat 350, and easily overpowered the smaller Empire. It offered a wide variety of shows, movies, and soap operas.

In 1914, the third player on the scene, the Colonial Theater, opened its doors to the public. As an attempt to lure customers away from the other two theaters in town, the Colonial would combine the excitement of film with traditional Vaudevillian Acts.

That same year, yet another theater was opened in Waukesha, with similar intentions. The Auditorium was located at 212 W. Main Street, and presented its self with potential for both live theater, and Motion Picture. It seated 400 and was constantly in competition with "The Colonial".

For four years, Waukesha's theaters battled for audiences, and by 1918, the Unique Theater was out of business. Just when it seemed that Waukesha could not sustain four theaters, yet another was built. "The Park Theater", located on the corner of Grand and Wisconsin Avenues, was grand, glorious, and thoroughly modern. Only the best Films and the finest theatrical productions were staged there.

 In 1920, Waukesha's mishmash of theaters were quickly organized and efficiently structured by World War I veteran, L F Thurwachter. Under his direction, the Park continued to operate for many years as Waukesha's best theater, the Auditorium was remodeled and christened "The Avon" after the instillation of Sound, and the Empire was similarly remodeled as "The Pix" in 1940. Under Thurwachter's direction, each of the three Waukesha theaters offered area citizens a different atmosphere. The Park was the best, most elegant, and most expensive of the three. The Avon served candy and soda, and showed westerns and adventure movies, earning for its self the nickname, "The Blood Bucket". "The Pix" served as Waukesha's second rate theater, where the costs of a ticket were less expensive, and the films were in their second round of release.