Lake Theatre - Lake Odessa MI 

Address: 1007 4th Ave
City: Lake Odessa
State: MI
Zip: 48849
County: Ionia
Open: 1914
Capacity:
Owner History:
Theater Type: Small Town Movie Palace
Number of visits to this page: 15335
Disclaimer:

Please note that location entries may feature older photos or post card views that may not represent the current appearance, features, addresses, phone numbers, or contact names of the attraction. This site is intended to be a historical as well as current record of various attractions but it is not always possible to have up-to-date information due to the vast number of locations featured here. We ask you consult the propietor for current information.

General Information:

AKA Diamond, Gordon Theater - Demolished in the 1980's.

According to Joe Vogel on Cinema Treasures, the Lake was on 4th Ave, a few doors north of 2nd Street. I visited the town on June 22, 2022 and that seems right to me. There is a building that can be seen in the old post card views a few doors down from that location. That would put the theater at the location of the Lake Odessa Community Library (roughly) which is newer construction. I will use that address for reference. See the photo analysis below for more information.

I also found articles on the former owners/operators. The more recent one was Charles D. Gordon. He bought the Lake Theatre and a candy shop. He re-named the theater to the "Gordon Theater" and featured live entertainment at that point. He later died tragically in a car accident. Prior to that was the Chase family. Wayne Chase was the son of Hollis who ran the theater as the Lake prior to that. Hollis Chase owned it from 1924 on until he died and Wayne took over. At some point after the 50's or 60's the theater was demolished.

Click the following links for locations of interest nearby:
Info Updates:
12/18/2003 - Box Office Magazine
July 1959 - Michael Spadafore closed the Lake at Lake Odessa.
 Photos:15
Lake Theatre - Old Photo From Paul (newer photo)
Old Photo From Paul (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Old Post Card (newer photo)
Old Post Card (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Old Post Card (newer photo)
Old Post Card (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Old Post Card (newer photo)
Old Post Card (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - 1972 Photo (newer photo)
1972 Photo (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - April 1969 Former Operator Passes Away (newer photo)
April 1969 Former Operator Passes Away (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Adfe1 (newer photo)
Adfe1 (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Dec 1952 Santa Claus Visit (newer photo)
Dec 1952 Santa Claus Visit (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Dec 1970 Old Posters From Lake And Flo (newer photo)
Dec 1970 Old Posters From Lake And Flo (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Feb 1956 4-H Event (newer photo)
Feb 1956 4-H Event (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Jan 1957 Article (newer photo)
Jan 1957 Article (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - July 1955 Profile On Wayne Chase (newer photo)
July 1955 Profile On Wayne Chase (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - June 1967 Hollis Chase Passes On (newer photo)
June 1967 Hollis Chase Passes On (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Lake Odessa Library Was General Area Of Where Theater Stood (newer photo)
Lake Odessa Library Was General Area Of Where Theater Stood (newer photo)
Lake Theatre - Photo Comparison From Old Days To 2022 (newer photo)
Photo Comparison From Old Days To 2022 (newer photo)
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