Chronology of the Historic Elks Theatre:
Theatre Chronology
1876 Rapid City is established by John Brennan & Sam Scott General George Custer is defeated at Little Big Horn James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok is shot to death in Deadwood, SD
1906 Railroad arrives in Rapid City
1911 Rapid City Elks lay cornerstone of their new home on 6th and Main
1912 Rapid City Elks celebrate completion of their lodge & opera house
1920 Elks Lodge sells Elks Opera House to Art Rose
1925 Art Rose sells Elks Theatre to Black Hills Amusement Company
1927 Gutzon Borglum begins work on Mount Rushmore
1929 Black Hills residents experience the "talkies" at the Elks Theatre
1969 Common Wealth Theatres purchases Elks Theatre from Black Hills Amusement Company
1972 Rapid City is devastated by flood
1988 United Artist purchase Elks Theatre
1989 United Artist locks the doors of the Elks Theatre
1990 Frozen pipes flood and severely damage the abandoned Elks Theatre
1992 Doug and Lori Andrews purchase the Elks Theatre and renovate the facilities
1995 The Friends of the Devereaux Library and the Elks Theatre launch Nostalgia Night
1999 The Screening Room is opened
2008 Curt Small purchases the Elks Theatre from the Andrews
2013 35mm film production ceases, and digital projectiors are installed
