612 Lakeshore Dr  

Section 16 History 1835-1922

The next map which would of been the 1906 Sanborn fire map does not travel any further than the west side of State Street where the current fire station sits leaving us to draw to conculsions as to what sat in this are - but asssumption could be made that it was a part of the railroad property and the part or all of the grounds for the Colonade hotel.

By the 1908 map everything from what is State Street today - to the east edge end of the LakeHouse was one large lot labeled "5"

1908 - Appears to be empty lot

The next map which would of been the 1914 Sanborn fire map again does not travel any further than the west side of State Street where the current fire station sits leaving us still to draw to conculsions as to what sat in this are -

1922 - Appears to be empty lot - Finally in 1922 we have a map thay shows us that Lot 5 had been subdivided down over the years. and also that there seems to be a small building posiibly either on the lot that was formerly Hansen's or the Lakeview Tavern as there is a small open square on the very edge of the front of the lot besides building on the east end

1922

League of Historic American Theaters, states:

Culver
Lakeside Cinema /El Rancho Theatre
Built: 1922 Seats: 299

By the 1924 Sanborn map there is defintely a building it and is clearly labeled "Movies"

Theater being the 1st and it appears that they were built together as a unit and depicts probably what was the original faced of the buildings and was taken probably just shortly after it was erected.

A view from left to right - theatre; last Hansen's; Lakeview tavern; bowling alley; area of Coffee shop

Culver Theater - 1922 - 1929 Palace Theatre -1931-1934 Palm Theatre (refernce given to the Hayes Building ) - 1931-1940 1937 - Sanborn Map shows "movies" 610 Lakeshore Dr The 1937 - shows the same with a gas station to the west of the "Movies" building In 1924 no street/postal numbers were assigned on the Sanborn Map but on the 1937 map the street/postal numbers appeared. Many still did not use the street/postal numbers in their advertising etc. until the late 1950's they hung on to the reference in relation of location from the depot Theater as it was before the remodel and logs put on as a facing. 1940 Remodeled extensively inside and out and re-opened as the El Rancho Evert & Sadie Hoesel; John & Gwen Hoesel It appears that Evert tried to sell the theater selveral times only to end up back owning it by several articles found. 1946 - Fire dmages building. El Rancho Theater Evert & Sadie Hoesel; John & Gwen Hoesel 1984 - 2007 - Lakeside Cinema 2007,March- 2015,Apr - Hand-Sum Corporation / Uptown Cinema - Dan Bickel 2011 - 2015 - Closed for business The big screen has been dark at 612 Lakeshore Drive for around two years now, though reliable sources say the building is being purchased and will be put to use again, though exactly how much of that use will involve the showing of first-run movies is still unknown. - October 22, 2013 2015, Apr.-2016 - Bobs Country Bunker LLC - and by research done who ever bought it it has some connection to the recently restored Vonnegut House on the East Shore ---> By the newspaper article of 20 May 2015 - The local spoke person is Joel Samuelson, who was with the theater during its last years 2007-2012; 2012 being the last time regular films were shown. Its noted in the article the Smuelson will be in charge of cleaning up the building; making a listing of the needed repairs and renovations. Also its stressed that this will be a "work in progress" and the goal is to fix and put in working order before the doors are ever re-opened to the public. The marquee seems to sum it up: "We Will Meet Again" "Coming Soon" 2015 - Nov. 5 - Town Council also approved a request from Bob's Country Bunker LLC, which owns Culver's movie theater on Lake Shore Drive, for a utility easement along the west side of the property in order to run new water and sewer lines. 2016 - AUg 30 - Maxinkuckee Theatre Association Last year saw announcement that a new owner had purchased the theater, with local project coordinator Joel Samuelson navigating some of the steps needed to bring the theater back to life. Now a group of volunteers -- led by Samuelson and other members of the not-for-profit Maxinkuckee Theatre Association in collaboration with local preservation organization Culver-Union Twp. Heritage -- are partnering to continue that effor 2022 - June 2 - Unsafe building board voted to order the removal of the marquee because it was starting to turn down; the also ordered that that ticket booth be boarded up as there is damage to the windows and it appears entry gained into the facility. TONER ADD W 30' E 140' OLOT 5 Today is Original Started as paper version Sept. 1990 web version started 2004 | All Rights Reserved