Help Revive the Delavan Theater
The Rich History
In 1928, the owner of the Pastime Theater wanted a larger facility and decided upon the 400 block of Walworth Ave for its new home. It was dedicated in 1929 and the name was eventually changed to the Delavan Theater. It was built as the era of silent film was ending and talking movies were the rage. The photograph below shows the beautiful interior of the theater during a W.W. Bradley & Co. fashion show in the 1930s, complete with orchestra pit.
The theater sat quiet for several years until in 1977 the audience chamber was split in two, becoming a two-plex cinema for a number of years until a local church purchased it, renovating it once more.
Then, in 2020, James Beall Real Estate was established and purchased the historic building with the intent to restore it to its original glory.
Bring Back the Magic
Led by long-time resident and business owner, Jim Beall, we are a dedicated group of locals, young and old, who believe in the magic and strength of community and theater.
We want the revival of the old Delavan Theater to be much more than restoring a historic Delavan cornerstone; we aim to use this space to create a diverse gathering space for the community, and further develop the thriving Delavan economy.
By bringing together Delavan and Walworth County residents from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and people groups, our goal is to grow our community’s bond through shared experiences of memorable entertainment.
In taking on this project, we aim to bring big entertainment to an intimate stage, provide short and long-term jobs, bring together diverse audiences, promote the arts, and most importantly serve as a community center and gathering place for our county’s many organizations.
We are a shovel-ready project, and have already “dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s” in preparation for construction, but to bring the dream to reality, we need your help.
How to Contribute
We are currently fundraising to reach our goal of 2.5 million in order to bring this project to life. We are working on establishing a way to donate online, which should be up and running soon.
Until that time you can submit your contributions via check in the mail to our 501(c)3 organization, Friends of the Wishing Star Theater.
Mailing Information
Friends of the Wishing Star Theater
405 E. Walworth Ave.
Delavan, WI 53115