A Thought to Remember: Lory Theater has been entertaining Highland for over a century

“In 1915, blacksmith Henry Lory (whose family name was originally spelled Lohri) sold his blacksmith business and building to his son, Erwin Lory.

“Henry Lory’s evening job in 1912 was to help A.P. Mosimann build the Airdome, just back of the Opera House. (The Airdome was used in the summer time, as the Opera House became too hot.) The first manager of the Opera House and Airdome was John Hartman of O’Fallon. They charged 15 cents to see a silent movie, with a piano player adding the drama. In 1913, P.A. (Pete) Seitz leased these two buildings.

“In 1915, Henry Lory then purchased from A.P. Mosimann, for $20,000, the Columbia Hotel, with a half-block frontage on Main Street, to enlarge his Columbia Hotel, and he also purchased the Opera House (later called the Columbia Opera House) with the Airdome in back. When Seitz’s lease expired, Henry Lory took over management also of the Columbia Opera House from Pete Seitz.

(Seitz then built his “Palace Theater” just three blocks east, also on Main Street, where the Kenneth Sudhof residence is today.)

“It wasn’t until after the death of Henry Lory, aged 61, in 1932, that the theater was remodeled by his family, and it became the ‘Lory Theater.’ Henry Lory had two sons. Erwin managed the hotel, and Herbert returned from collage to manage the Lory Theater. In 1935, Herb and family, renovated the building and added the new brick front and additions to the stage. Presumably, this is when the dancing lady medallions were also installed inside the theater.

“In August of 1939, the Kerasotes Theaters of Springfield, Ill., leased the Lory Theater from Henry’s widow, Mrs. Emma (Greb) Lory. The new resident manager was Bernard Palmer, followed by Ted Randall and then Val Portwood, who was the resident manager, when the theater was purchased in July of 1947 by Kerasotes Theaters.”

(These quotes from the July 22, 1947, Highland News Leader column. Additional quotes from Russell Hoffman’s March 17, 1992, column in The Shopper’s Review. Reread my columns of Sept. 20 and 24, 2007 for more Henry Lory information, as he was mayor of Highland from 1909 to 1915. The Henry Lory Family is also on Page 286 in the Sesquicentennial Book. One of the great-grandchildren, Peggy Bellm Carnley, still lives in Highland.)

The following quotes are from Johannah Comish of Highland, for her Girl Scout Silver Award Project, with assistance from Hillary McLaughlin: “Mosimann, in 1915, improved the Airdome, and a new projector was added. He then sold to Henry Lory.”

According to the Highland High School yearbook, called the Iris, senior class plays were performed there during the years of 1920-1935, also many commencements. In January 1932, “Talkies” arrived with the new film equipment that was installed.

“The Opera House hosted American Legion Home Talent Shows, bank night, dish night, Pal’s Nickle Night, double features and free children’s Christmas shows.

“The Kerasotes Theaters sold 92 of their theaters to AMC Theaters (formerly the American Multi Cinema). The Lory Theater was not producing enough revenue. In July of 2011, they closed the Lory Theater in Highland. Mayor Joe Michaelis and City Manager Mark Latham, kept writing about the need for a movie house in Highland. On August 19, 2011, when Highland Celebrated the 175th Jubilee, the Committee held a fund raising event at the closed Lory Theater. They showed ‘American Graffiti’ and outside supporters enjoyed music, free popcorn and saw vintage cars.

“The Lory Theater was idle for over a year, then Justin and Hillary McLaughlin, owners of McLaughlin’s Satellite & Home Theater, contacted the city after reading the mayor’s articles. They entered Highland’s Entrepreneur Program on Aug. 17, 2011, and were the first to complete the program. This was followed by nine months of negotiations. (During this time, AMC was sold to a Chinese conglomerte, Dalian Wanda.) It wasn’t until Aug. 29, 2012, when they were able to purchase the Lory Theater and building. The McLaughlins brought the Lory Theater back to life. They completely remodeled the first floor with new speakers, projectors, wiring and a complete restroom overhaul. The Lory reopened on Dec. 26, 2012.

“On May 4, 2013, through great community support, called a Kickstarter Campaign, funds were raised to purchase a new digital projector, as 35mm film would no longer be available. They then remodeled the second floor and are able to show two movies, each afternoon and evening.”

Have you attended the Lory Theater recently? You’ll enjoy the Lory and will be supporting a local Highland business that is more than 100 years old.

I have three old play bills of the Opera House, one 1900, 1924 and 1926, that will be in the Highland Home Museum at 1600 Walnut, in 1912 Building, which we hope to be open in May.

The June 14, 1900 was Old Maids Convention. Adult tickets were 25 cents and children 15 cents.

The May 23, 1924 comedy, Nothing But the Truth, was put on by the class of 1924, with characters being portrayed by Norman Tuffli, Vernon Ittner, Roland Tschudy, Roscoe Menz, Milton Reinhart, Wilma Matter, Estelle Hagnauer, Esther Hebrank, Edna Miller, Ellen Stokes and Irma Kock. The play was under the direction of Miss Thurston and music by was by Stocker’s Orchestra.

The Oct.7 and 8, 1926, play Betty Lou was a home talent show, a modern musical, and was a benefit for the Highland American Legion. It had a cast of almost 50 Highland-area people.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 3:54 AM with the headline "A Thought to Remember: Lory Theater has been entertaining Highland for over a century."