Crystal Theater

Nappanee's first nickelodeon or pioneer movies houses opened sometime before 1909. There is nothing further known about it.

The first recorded movie house, The Theatorium, opened on West Market Street on March 6, 1909, with 3,000 feet of film on four subjects.

The Nappanee Amusement Company was behind this venture. The only thing that we know about the Amusement Company is that they provided the public with excellent, clean, and wholesome entertainment. It was a doubtful proposition to expect the town to support two theatres so long that one was taking care of the public in a satisfactory manner. The business was overdone in most places. The Nappanee Amusement Company worked long and diligently before the business was on a paying basis.

Movies and shows were nightly but on Sunday there were two shows. Admission was 10 cents and it had a small stage with wings, curtains, and a street scene. Vaudevilles with movies, every night but Sunday, started in December of 1910.

"The Balfours" was a company of six vaudeville artists in their line of singing and acting that came to the Theatorium. Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill Show was a film shown at the Theatorium and it celebrated the Native American Scoutmaking a farewell trip.

The Theatorium closed in about 1915. It was then reopened as the Crystal Theater on October 11, 1916 with movies every night but Sunday. The Crystal Theater closed in 1923 and was reopened that same year ats the Boice Theater.