The Walworth Theater and Showette, two of the most popular places in the history of downtown Walworth, will be featured at the next meeting of the Historical Society of Walworth and Big Foot Prairie on Thursday, Oct. 25.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the lower-level community room of Golden Years Retirement Village at 270 Ridge Road, Walworth. All people are welcome at the meeting, and they do not need to belong to the society.
A brief history of the theater and Showette will be presented. Several former employees will tell about their jobs and their recollections of the movies, friends and events that occurred there. Members of the audience are invited to tell about their memories of the theater, Showette and the Thomas and Dorothy Finin family.
Constantine Papas of Chicago built the theater. Louis Simonini of the Saunders Theater in Harvard, Ill., was the first manager. The first motion picture in the theater was shown April 25, 1947. Actor Don DeFore appeared in person, and his movie “Ramrod” was shown.
The Finins moved from Decatur, Ill., to Walworth in 1948 to run the theater and the adjacent Showette. Thomas operated the theater, and Dorothy managed the Showette.
The Showette attracted people of all ages to meet for meals and soda fountain treats such as malts, shakes, Cokes and phosphates. The snackbar in the theater had such treats as popcorn, Black Jack gum, Necco Wafers and Good & Plenty candy.
Before they were torn down, the theater and Showette were on the south side of the downtown square next to the current A Gathering gift store and On The Square Antique Mall. A parking lot is on the site.
For more information, call society president Nancy Lehman at 262-275-2426.
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