The Princess, The State, The Flame...A story of the movie theater which refuses to be "Gone With the Wind." The first motion pictures in Wells were shown at the City Opera House in 1910 and 1911. They consisted of one or two reels, and acetylene gas was used of light. By 1912, Sidney F. Heath and C.E. Anderson became partners in opening a building to be used only for motion pictures. One reel of c
omedy and two reels of the feature cost patrons 5 cents or 10 cents. (Wells Mirror Centennial Edition, June 26, 1969). Heath took over the interest of Anderson in 1914. He bought another store building, consolidated it with the City Opera House, and named it The Princess Theatre. In 1923, the Mirror states that a feature “besides the usual good show” was offered by Prof. Harry Gillam. That entertainment included the Winnebago Kid Band, the Kid Band of Freeborn, and the “popular little dancing girls” from Wells (Dec. 6, 1923). In August of 1924, the theater name was changed to The State Theatre. Advertisements show a Dollar Bargain Day, with five adult tickets for $1.00. That same summer the theater presented “the first moving picture film that has ever been shown of this city” (Mirror, July 10, 1924). The film featured the city of Wells as it looked in 1914, including the “famous Wells Maroon band,” and shots of the Wells Flour Mill. Moving pictures soon changed again, and in 1929 Wells adapted to those changes. Manager Heath had equipment for sound installed, at the tremendous cost of $10,000. In 1937, the State Theatre was completely remodeled and made independent of the rest of the building. It reopened, again in August, with the Clark Gable film “Saratoga.” The new theater featured a “modern streamlined” canopy, which was “beautifully lighted at night.” The lobby was painted coral and green and the foyer floor was carpeted in deep red and green. Soft indirect lighting was featured inside, and “beautiful drop lights of metal and crystal glass” hung in the foyer and lobby. Best of all, “washed air cools the theater to just the right degree of comfort.” (Mirror, Aug. 26, 1937). Motion pictures became big business, and 1939 was a blockbuster year for the film industry. Within 10 days, the State Theatre showed all these famous films: “Goodbye Mr. Chips” on Sept. 17 and 18; “Thanks for the Memories” starring Bob Hope on Sept. 21; “The Young Mr. Lincoln” with Henry Fonda on Sept. 24 & 25; and “Rose Marie” with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald on Sept. 28. A few weeks later on December 10-12, the State presented “The Wizard of Oz” with Judy Garland. The theater ran four shows on Sunday alone to handle the crowds for that extravagant feature. It wasn’t until April of 1940 that Wells citizens got the first hint that they could see the most famous 1939 movie of them all. Wells Mirror advertising announced that David O. Selznick’s “Gone with the Wind,” starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, would be coming to Wells May 26 & 27. The matinees on Sunday and Monday were priced at 75 cents, while the two evening showings were billed at an unheard of $1.10! Even 10-15 years later, show prices were listed at only 50 cents, 40 cents and 20 cents for evening shows, and 40 cents, 30 cents and 9 cents for matinees. In 1946, a devastating tornado hit the city. It struck the theater while 400 people were inside. The storm destroyed the drop curtain and back stage of the opera house but the damage was quickly repaired and the theater reopened within a month. Then, on January 20, 1959, with “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” on the marquee, disaster struck again. On a bitterly cold day, the old opera house which housed the State Theatre, city offices, police and fire departments, was destroyed by fire of unknown origin. In March 1960, the Mirror notes that “a huge crane tore down what was once the center attraction in Southern Minnesota.” But a new building rose from the ashes, and in Nov. 1960 Manager Heath held a contest to name the new theater. August J. Schultz and Mrs. Rose Mershon won free passes by submitting the name “Flame Theatre” the name which has continued to 1996. Throughout much of its history, the Wells theater was managed by Sidney Heath. He took sons S.F. Heath, Jr. and W. Heath into the business with him, and they carried on after his death. Sidney Heath, Jr. continued management after the death of his brother, William. The theater is currently managed by a committee of city officials and residents. In July of 1940, the theater celebrated what was called “Our 30th Anniversary Show.” Thus, in 1996 the people of Wells celebrate an 86-year tradition of motion picture entertainment. Written by Betsy Hermanson
