Elks Theatre

Chronology of the Historic Elks Theatre:

Theatre Chronology 

1876  Rapid City is established by John Brennan & Sam Scott General George Custer is defeated at Little Big Horn  James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok is shot to death in Deadwood, SD 

1906 Railroad arrives in Rapid City 

1911  Rapid City Elks lay cornerstone of their new home on 6th and Main 

1912  Rapid City Elks celebrate completion of their lodge & opera house 

1920  Elks Lodge sells Elks Opera House to Art Rose 

1925 Art Rose sells Elks Theatre to Black Hills Amusement Company 

1927  Gutzon Borglum begins work on Mount Rushmore 

1929  Black Hills residents experience the "talkies" at the Elks Theatre 

1969  Common Wealth Theatres purchases Elks Theatre from Black Hills Amusement Company 

1972  Rapid City is devastated by flood 

1988   United Artist purchase Elks Theatre 

1989  United Artist locks the doors of the Elks Theatre 

1990 Frozen pipes flood and severely damage the abandoned Elks Theatre 

1992  Doug and Lori Andrews purchase the Elks Theatre and renovate the facilities 

1995  The Friends of the Devereaux Library and the Elks Theatre launch Nostalgia Night 

1999  The Screening Room is opened 

2008  Curt Small purchases the Elks Theatre from the Andrews 

2013 35mm film production ceases, and digital projectiors are installed