The Modjeska Theatre

The first version of Milwaukee's Modjeska Theatre was a brick structure built in 1910. It had room for about 840 theatergoers. Little is known about the first Modjeska aside from the fact that it sported an ornate wooden facade identical to Milwaukee's Princess Theater, then under construction downtown and also designed by famous architect Henry Lotter. The Modjeska was intended no doubt as an eponymous and posthumous honor by the then heavily Polish south side of Milwaukee.

In 1924, the local Saxe Theatres chain bought and demolished the first theater to build a neighborhood movie palace of 2,000 seats on an enlarged lot at the same address. They retained the name and engaged noted theater architects C.W. and George Rapp of Chicago to design the Modjeska Theater. The Modjeska opened it's doors on August 2nd of that year.

The name Modjeska would need no explanation to patrons of turn-of-the- century American legitimate theater, but for those born too late, let this theatre memorialize the one who was called "The greatest celebrity left to the English-speaking stage." Madame Helena Modjeska, born in Poland in 1844 as Helena Opido, anglicized her husband's name and relocated to California for her health in 1876 and thereafter triumphed both in the States and England until her death in 1909.

The plan was 'economy' for Rapp & Rapp who gave the Modjeska one of their more modest designs with scant ornamentation. Though the budget had to be spread over five stores and second floor offices, they still managed a full stagehouse and the provisions for Vaudeville use were quite adequate with some 20 traps in the stage floor, a full orchestra pit (in the signature curve of Rapp & Rapp) and two of the most unusual alphabetic light bulb matrix annunciators in any theatre anywhere.

The decade of the 1950s saw the removal of the pipes from the organ chambers in the Modjeska in order to install air conditioning units. When United Artists removed their local offices from the adjacent building in 1987, it was thought the end was near for the historic Modjeska, but local businessman Stewart Johnson purchased the theater in 1991 and has made restorations for what is now mostly a local live acts venue. Two dozen front rows were removed to create a general admission dance floor and a unique doorway now joins the balcony foyer to a new screening room in the office building's second floor where Mr. Johnson's businesses now reside.

In 1993, he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission for his revitalization and historic preservation of the Modjeska. Now reduced to about 1700 seats, it is doubted that the projectors will ever see use again, but the $30,000 annual heating bill is partly relieved by a one-time grant from the city of $150,000 in 1991.

Today the Modjeska is home to The Modjeska Theatre Youth Company. Their aim is to engage young people from challenging circumstances and cultivate the character and creativity of individuals in a diverse performing arts environment. The Modjeska Theatre Company's performance of "Fame the Musical" recently was very well received.

Modjeska Theater
1134 West Mitchell Street
Milwaukee, WI 53204