Halloween at the Rivoli Theater, Two Rivers
In the 1950s, Halloween at the Rivoli Theater in Two Rivers was a memorable experience.
Staff of the Rivoli Theater portrayed ghosts for the Municipal Recreation Department’s Halloween Saturday afternoon show. The Manitowoc Herald Times featured the event with an article on October 30, 1953 saying, “Eight young misses will portray the roles of ghosts in serving as ushers at the event for the kiddies. Their adopted theme song will be ‘A-Haunting We Will Go’.” The ushers for the evening included Natalie (Spooks) Lueck, Betty (Spirits) Fronk, Nancy (Shadow) Henrickson, Dorothy (Goblin) Shavlik, Shirley (Screams) Richard, Shirley (Shreaks) Beth, and Lou Ann (Groans) Prausa.
During the Saturday afternoon show the featured thrill was the “Houdini Story”, “with its death-defying feast of the great escape artist of all time, the late Harry Houdini of Appleton.” The 1953 Paramount Pictures film stared Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.
Also shown were the films “Disaster in the Stratosphere”, the sixth chapter of “The Lost Planet”, “Hollywood at Play”, and three additional cartoons.
But movies were the only reason to visit the Rivoli Theater for Halloween. A costume contest was held with “numerous worthwhile prizes from Two Rivers merchants.” The 1953 Herald Times newspaper article went on to report that “more than a hundred children have appeared in unique and unusual attire, with winners being selected by the applause of the audience.”
To attend the Halloween show, all children were required to sign a “good behavior” pledge at their school. By signing this pledge, the children agreed to exhibit proper behavior for Halloween and not be involved in vandalism or nuisance behavior. It was noted that the “Regular children’s price of 14 cents will prevail” for the Halloween show. The occasion was for children through eighth grade.
Doors opened at 2:45 pm and the entertainment began at 3:15 and was expected to last about three hours. Following the Halloween show, each participant received a treat from the Two Rivers Recreation Department.
“Since its inception several years ago provision of this entertainment for the children has reduced Halloween nuisances to a minimum, according to the Police Department. Two Rivers boys and girls find this amusement far more attractive than the trick-or-treat tactics of prior years.”
The Recreation Department’s Halloween festivities grew even more in 1954. The theater and costume party was held on November 1 that year, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Two Rivers Recreation Department. Over 2,000 “good behavior” pledges were disbursed at local schools. The signed pledge, along with 10 cents admission, would admit a child to attend the Halloween party.
The Rivoli, located at 1806 Washington Street, Two Rivers, held its popular Halloween celebration until it closed its doors in the late 1950s. The theater, with seating for 1,000 patrons, had been a community asset since it opened its doors in 1922. Following its operation as a theater, the building became Evan’s Department Store and most recently the Two Rivers Christian Center Thrift Store.
