Bastable Theatre

During Shubert's early years of management, he competed with the city's Wieting Opera House, which was controlled by The Theatrical Syndicate.

[1] The theatre had an early success showing the 1897 film The Corbett-Fitzsimmons Fight, on two occasions that year: the first shortly after March, and the second in October.

The following year, he diversified the theatre, a move coupled with renovation, and exclusively booked touring shows.

[7] Shubert showed films by the American Biograph Company to great success beginning in January 1898.

[6] The theatre was finally successful and profitable, and the Shubert family began leasing both the Bastable and Grand Opera House in the city.

The fire was noted around 5:30 pm, but the top of the building was engulfed in flame before effective firefighting could begin.

Several other buildings caught fire, and the Bastable block was virtually completely razed.

Several months after burning down, the owner of the block announced construction of a new office building on the lot.