Originally opening in 1913 as the Rock River Theatre, it became the Parkway Theater in 1931. The Parkway Theater was plagued with ongoing controversy which included a chemical bomb exploding in the theater in 1932, ongoing protests by rival union projectionist, the inclusion of adult film viewing beginning in the 1970's, and subsequent FBI raids. 

 

All the terra-cotta and windows are all original from the theater. The balcony railing and bronze doors came out of two separate theater's in New Jersey. The capitals on top of the columns came from a theater in Indianapolis. 

 

The Parkway Theater was originally located on 3417 W. Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.