Wisconsin is unique in the number of historic movie theatres that remain standing today. This book catalogs those theatres, from ones built as opera houses, auditoriums, and community halls in the mid-19th century to the ornate "movie palaces" of the late 1920s and 1930s and, finally, the quickly and cheaply constructed theatres of the 1950s.

Around 900 Wisconsin theatres are arranged alphabetically by town in entries that provide the theatre's name(s), location, number of seats, and opening and closing dates. There are 335 photographs included.