Three Oaks Township in Berrien County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Vickers Theatre
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 23, 2025
1. Vicker's Theatre Marker
William Bremer built this two story building in the parking lot to the immediate south (right as you are reading this) in 1891. He operated a grocery store, meat market and saloon on the ground floor and an opera house on the second floor. E.K. Warren purchased it in 1902 for use as a community center. Mr. Warren may have had ulterior motives - he believed alcohol was a "demoralizing influence" and fought to eliminate it from Three Oaks. From 1922-1932 the upstairs was used as the home court of the Three Oaks All Stars, Michigan State Basketball Champions in 1931 and 1932, beating Detroit both years for the championship. The team also beat the University of Michigan team in 1929 when U of M was Big Ten champs. In 1944 the building was purchased by the Three Oaks Co-ops who operated a farm supply and feed business (previously operated as the Bachman and Poff Implement Store) until 1973 when the building was demolished and the lot donated to the Village for a parking lot. Note the building to the immediate north of the Opera House. The stable and feed store is now Vicker's Theatre.
The young man to the right is John Hoven,
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.
Location. 41° 48.074′ N, 86° 36.619′ W. Marker is in Three Oaks, Michigan, in Berrien County. It is in Three Oaks Township. It is on North Elm Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 N Elm St, Three Oaks MI 49128, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 22 North Elm Street (within shouting distance of this
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, July 23, 2025
2. Vicker's Theatre Marker
The marker is on the far right side of the building, next to the movie poster.
Also see . . . History of the Vickers Theatre, Three Oaks, MI. Vickers Theatre website A brief history of movie theaters in Three Oaks.
The first moving pictures to be shown in Three Oaks were at the Acorn Opera House, located where the parking lot now exists next to the present Vickers Theatre. In the spring of 1909, Melvin Smith of Three Rivers pitched a tent in the business district of Three Oaks showing movies and vaudeville acts. The venture met with immediate success. In the next two years, twoother movie houses opened in Three Oaks. These three theaters bore the enchanting names of The Princess, The Idle Hour, and The Fairyland (which eventually became the Vickers).(Submitted on November 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
