HISTORY OF THE SPRAGUE THEATRE

On May 31, 1928, 1300 people attended the grand opening of the Sprague Theatre, built by Dan Kelliher.  Edward Sprague, whose Sprague Opera House burned down in 1925, spoke at the dedication of the new theatre bearing his name.  

The new 400-seat theatre, called his best creation by architect Alex Baur, with "modernistic colors and designs" by John Yonk, was finished with more than 1/2 ton of carpeting and 1000 yards of material for curtains and drapes.  Ornate plaster castings in rich golds, silvers, reds and greens decorated the walls and ceilings.

In its first year of operation, silent movies with organ accompaniment, vaudeville acts, and various radio and movie personalities graced the stage.  Some of the acts to appear were Al Carney, radio organist for WHT Chicago; Ford and Glen, the "Lullaby Boys" of WLS Chicago; and Baby Peggy, child movie star of the Our Gang pictures.

In 1929 Dan Kelliher spent $6000 on new talking-picture equipment and on May 7 of that year Broadway Melody, an all-talkie, was shown.  In the 1940s, the Sprague was host to the world premiere of the movie Tillie the Toiler starring a local actress who made it big in Hollywood.  Dan Kelliher and his movie theatre remained an active part of the Elkhorn entertainment scene up into the 1970s.

The Sprague has a history of being part of the Elkhorn community.  Two days after the grand opening, the Elkhorn senior class presented the play The Mummy and the Mumps, complete with the latest drop-type scenery.  Throughout the years, it has served as the location for high school commencement exercises, service club fundraisers, and holiday events.  Many members of the community have fond memories of  the theatre’s “sweetheart seats.”

In 1973 the first production of Lakeland Players, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, was presented on the tiny stage in front of the movie screen.  In 1990, the Sprague became the permanent home of Lakeland Players when we purchased the neglected building.