Gateway Theater (Rhode Opera House)
514 54th Street, Kenosha, WI

The 1,250-seat Gateway theater, designed by George Rapp, opened on December 29, 1927, on the site of the 1896 Rhode Opera House. Standard Theaters took over operations in 1963, renaming it the Lake, and shuttered the nearby Kenosha Theater. In 1976, the single auditorium was duplexed. The Lake closed its doors in April, 1984, and in December, 1987, ownership was passed to the Kenosha Lakeshore BID. Reverting to the Rhode Opera House name, the theater has been home to the Lakeside Players community theater since 1988; the Players purchased the theater from the BID in September, 1989. As of March, 2006, the all-volunteer Players have been having financial difficulty and are not receiving the necessary support from the City of Kenosha; it is feared they may be forced to sell the property.

Photographed March 13, 2004

Rhode Opera House (official)
Rhode Opera House on Cinema Treasures
Rhode Theater Needs Your Help on Cinema Treasures

Return to Theaters