The Harbor Theatre

The Harbor Theatre opened in 1938 as the Florence Theatre. The theatre was located at 1377 Bay St, Florence, Oregon, and the building remains there today. An internal fire in 1957 prompted a renovation and reopening as The Harbor Theatre. The theatre remained in operation until 2003, when a shoe store purchased the building. When it first opened as the Florence Theatre, it was owned by M.E. Ritter Jr. The Florence Theatre boasted 350 seats and even had a standing room for overflow. It cost Mr. Ritter a total of 10,000 dollars to build. Mr. and Mrs. Ritter had actually sold the theatre one year before the fire, but remained investors in the building until the time of the fire. It was bought by Mr. and Mrs. Claver and Mr. and Mrs. Thompson in 1956, one year before the fire. The financial loss of the building after the fire was 15,000, but was covered by insurance. The building featured a classic 1930's art deco style and featured an iconic vintage theatre sign. The sign is now on display at the Darkside Cinema in Corvallis, Oregon. The Florence theatre offered other entertainment aside from movies, including an American Legion-supported minstrel show that actually sold out both sitting and standing tickets. They also offered an annual marionette show, and students from the local grade schools were actually taken to see the show during their school hours.