 1915 image of the Butterfly Theater | |
 | |
| Address | 212 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°2′21″N 87°54′49″W / 43.03917°N 87.91361°W |
| Owner | Otto Meister |
| Type | Movie palace |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 2, 1911 |
| Closed | 1930 |
| Demolished | 1930 |
| Years active | 1911–1930 |
| Architect | August Willmanns |
The Butterfly Theater opened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, on September 2, 1911. The theater had 1,500 seats and it featured a US$10,000 (equivalent to $327,000 in 2023) pipe organ. The facade was adorned by a 27 ft (8.2 m) wide butterfly which was illuminated by 1,000 light bulbs. The theater had marble floors, canaries in gilded cages, crystal chandeliers and a mirrored staircase.
The land used for the theater was the former site of two nickelodeon theaters. The theaters were razed and the Butterfly Theater was constructed on the site and operated from 1911 to 1930. The theater claimed to be almost fireproof. The Butterfly Theater was razed in 1930 and the Warner Movie Palace opened on the site in 1931.