TEMPLE THEATRE

Albion has had various motion picture theatres through the years. The Bohm Theatre is the lone survivor as the result of a lot of civic-minded Albionites who worked and raised money to see that this prominent downtown landmark was restored and reopened.

The era of motion pictures came to Albion in 1907, with the opening of the Temple Theatre. It was located adjacent on the north to the Morse Clothing Store, in the Young Block, situated over the Kalamazoo River on the west side of the street.

The Temple gained the nickname "the Nickelodeon" because of the five-cent charge for shows. It was owned and operated by Louis Frye. These were "silent films," and so music was provided by Frances Baker (Mrs. Bruce Guyselman) who played the piano during the movies.

Unfortunately, the Temple Theatre was uprooted by the Great Flood of March, 1908 in downtown Albion, when the front of the Young Block collapsed into the churning waters of the Kalamazoo River below, and the entire building had to be demolished.

Following the Flood, the Temple Theater moved to 223 S. Superior St. in the Opera House building, where it continued to operate for a few more years. That site subsequently became home of the Censor Theatre, which opened in August, 1915.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of the Flood of 1908, showing the Morse Clothing Store on the left, and the Temple Theatre on the right. Notice the big numeral "5c" on the front window. How many of our readers are planning on attending a movie at the Bohm Theatre now that it has reopened?

	Frank Passic — Albion Historian An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page. Historical Notebook \| From the Archives \| Subject List \| 100 Years Ago \| Alphabetical Index \| Frank Passic Home Page \| Albion History Books \| Contact Frank
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