Otto L. Meister (1869–July 10, 1944) was a theater owner that operated Nickelodeon theatres in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Beginning in 1911 he operated several movie theaters including the Butterfly Theater.
Otto Meister | |
|---|---|
| Born | Otto L. Meister 1869 |
| Died | July 10, 1944 (aged 74–75) |
| Other names | O.L. Meister |
| Occupation | Theater owner |
Career
editc. 1900 Meister began operating Otto Meister’s Nickelodeon Theater and Phanta-Phone dime museum.[1] In 1911 he built the Butterfly Theater on the site of the Nickelodeon, which was torn down in 1930 to make room for the Warner theater.[2][3] He partnered with John R. Freuler to create the Central Amusement Company which also controlled the Vaudette, the Atlas and the Climax Theaters in Milwaukee.[4]
The Butterfly opened on September 2, 1911; it became nationally known.[2][1] The theater opened to 1,500 people and showed several movies. A six-piece orchestra played and the Loos Brothers sang a duet called "My Hula Hula Love".[5]
Meister continued to own theaters in the Milwaukee area and he developed a reputation as being unfair to organized labor. In 1929 he was operating the White House Theatre when someone detonated a stick of dynamite against a wall of the building. Windows were blown out but damage was contained. The perpetrator was never found.[6]
Death
editMeister died on July 10, 1944; he was 74 years old.[7] He was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery (Milwaukee).[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Rankin, Jim (2022). "The Butterfly Theatre". Astor Theater. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ a b Vollmert, Les (1988). Lower East Side Neighborhood Historic Resources Survey (PDF). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: City of Milwaukee Department of City Development. p. 32. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ a b Widen, Larry (31 May 2023). "Who's Buried in Milwaukee?". Shepherd Express. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Widen, Larry; Anderson, Judi (2007). Silver Screens: A Pictorial History of Milwaukee's Movie Theaters. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Historical Society. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-87020-368-8. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Crowd Blocks Sidewalks". Milwaukee Sentinel. 3 September 1911.
- ^ "Dynamite Bomb Used at Theatre in Milwaukee". The Sheboygan Press. Associated Press. 18 March 1929. p. 13. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
- ^ "Obituary for Veteran Showman". The Daily Tribune. 10 July 1944. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2024.