click zoom to display a high-res image
Property Location
Property Features
This 3 story Beaux Arts theatre building is constructed of brick with a terra cotta facing on the front wall. The upper floors of this building are elaborately decorated with classical motifs, including fluted pilasters with acanthus leaf and scroll capitals; a frieze of small panels of rosettes and swags; a tri-partitate window decorated with an entablature of a curvilinear gable, a decorated shield, and decorated moldings. A large marquee projects from the buildings. It features "Fond du Lac" in neon lettering, and a plain white surface with black lettering. The marquee sits over a metal overhang. The first floor consists of large windows and a recessed entrance.
This building is a fine and decorative example of the Beaux Arts style. The Beaux Arts style was a turn of the century decorative style that reflected the return to classicism by architects who studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Popular for large institutional buildings, it is a style that features elaborately decorated classical motifs. This building has an abundance of these details. If interior details are extant and suggest that this theatre was a "movie palace", the building would have additional architectural significance.
This building was constructed for Fisher's Fond du Lac Theatre, later just the Fond du Lac Theatre. It may have been one of Fond du Lac's "movie palaces," theatres that were constructed in the 1920s to serve the booming silent movie audiences of the era.
National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings
Architecture & History Inventory
The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.
Questions?
Wondering about if your property is eligible or notice some information on this property needs to be updated, reach out today!
Email UsAttribution
For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier.
The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.
For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.
Access Property Records
Some properties have more materials (correspondence, clippings, historical information, etc.) not in the digital record. If a 'Site File' exists, it's noted in the 'Additional Comments' field. Contact us for an appointment to view these materials.
