In 1902, a fine new building went up just across the street from downtown's
beautiful Spencer Square. Located at 1903-05 Second Avenue, it was named for
its owner and marked "Peter Fries" in relief copper letters. Although the
name is blacked out on our postcard, it was located in the rectangle between
the second and third floors. Five years earlier, in 1897, Mr. Fries had
built in another handsome building just two blocks west that included a
similar panel displaying the words "Fries Building." That first structure
is now undergoing renovation as part of the Renaissance Building.
Our Peter Fries Building (Family Theatre) was probably designed by the
architectural firm of Drack and Kerns, who had designed the earlier
building. Similarities between the two structures abound, especially in
their use of triple windows within three separate bays. Instead of the
decorative round windows seen near the cornice of the Fries Building, this
one uses dramatic arched windows atop each bay.
Although our postcard calls this the Family Theatre, the original occupant
was the Central Bowling Alley and Billiard Hall. Upper rooms were rented
for a dancing studio. Bowling and billiards didn't last. Only a few years
later, the building was converted into the Family Theatre, a vaudeville
operation. The Knights of Columbus rented the entire third floor and part of
the nearby Dolly building as well The postcard shows that the Family
Theatre had a large sign hanging perpendicular to the building. The marquee
was a simple but elegant canopy that offered protection but no advertising.
Notice the sign on the sidewalk, probably touting the current entertainment.
Since our postcard is called the Family Theatre, we know it dates from
before 1915, when architect George Stauduhar drew plans to once again
remodel the theatre, this time into a movie house. With the remodeling came
a name change. The Family Theatre became the Spencer Square Theatre. A
1936 photo of the Spencer Theatre shows a larger but still elegant marquee
advertising the current movie, "Black Legion" starring Humphrey Bogart.
Admission is also noted as 15 cents for matinees and 25 cents for evenings.
Although the upper two stories in 1936 are unchanged from our postcard, the
street level looks quite different. Most notable, in addition to the
marquee, is a new "Arabian" balcony enclosing a latticed Gothic window set
above the doorway on the left. Perhaps this whimsical feature was intended
to set the scene for an interior theme.
It is hard for younger folks to believe how accessible movies were a couple
of generations ago, by foot, car, or public transportation. Our downtown -
as did other communities - had several theatres. Even more theatres were
located in Rock Island's smaller business areas on 14th Avenue and on 9th
Street. Nowadays, of course, a movie theatre is a long drive from just
about anywhere.
Spencer Theatre continued as a movie house until around 1950, although the
upper floors were converted to Spencer Apartments sometime in the 1940s.
Then the theatre closed with the apartments remaining a bit longer.
Finally, in the mid 1950s, the Peter Fries Building as well as the adjacent
Dolly Building are identified in City Directories only as "City Parking
Lot." Later, the small parking lot was enlarged by the demolition of the
remaining buildings facing Second Avenue.
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