Lorraine Theatre

It all started in 1922 when A.B. McCollum built the Lorraine as a silent film and vaudeville theatre. The theatre stage was built with a flyaway with over seven backdrops. The dressing areas were on either side of the stage. The only air conditioning was done with oscillating fans mounted along side the walls of the auditorium. Heating was obtained by a large steam boiler that sent hot steam to radiators in the bathrooms, and a large radiator that can still be seen in front of the stage.

The Lorraine was built with what is known today as Grand Stand Seating. You entered the auditorium from center doors where the snack bar is now located. From here you went through a tunnel into the auditorium and then to an aisle that went to the left or right aisles almost like you see today. There was no balcony. The floor sloped up to where the balcony is now located.

There are no interior pictures of the Lorraine before 1937, so most of this information is gathered from the former owner Art Nelson, and some guesswork as well.