39.49215901506672, -117.07085138252125

While it is unknown to us when the building in which the present day Owl Club was originally built, the 1886 Sanborn Fire Map shows the building smaller and listed as a saloon.

1890- Building still listed as a saloon in this year's fire map.

1907 - Brassnail Saloon purchased by Humphrey Augustine Kearns from Mrs. A. McMillan of San Francisco. Sanborn map shows building appearing longer and listed as "Movies." Kearns is a carpenter and undertaker.

1911. Building was used as a funeral home. A transfer from H.A. Kearns to Mrs. C. Kearns includes the lot and building plus "... one undertaker hearse and appurtenances belonging thereto, and all the undertaker's stock of goods in said building..."

1922- No listing in The Film Daily Year Book 1922-23

1926- Austin Theater mentioned in The Film Daily Year Book as having 300 seats. Austin population 400, according to Yearbook-- actually closer to 650.

1937- H.A. Kearns dies from injuries resulting from a oil fire in his home

Oil Explosion Kills Austinite
AUSTIN, Nev., July 12 - (U.P.) - Humphrey A. Kearns, Austin undertaker and former Lander county commissioner, was dead today of fatal burns he received when an oil stove in his home exploded.
The explosion sprayed Kearns' clothing but the clothes did not catch fire until Kearns reentered his home to remove valuables after the flames had spread rapidly in the frame dwelling. The burns proved fatal despite emergency treatment given him immediately. Spreading rapidly, the fire completely destroyed the house and the adjoining home of his brother, Charles Kearns. Damage was estimated at $3000. There was no insurance.
-Nevada State Journal, July 13, 1937

1938- Ely's Walter E. Hull and Fallon's S. E. Hagan purchase Austin Theater. They reportedly extend the rear of the building, add a basement to house an air conditioning plant, and remodel the front of the building.

Rapid progress is being made in the construction of the new Austin Theater picture show house on Main street. Cement foundations for the extension in the rear of the former Kearns building have been poured as have walls and floor for a ten by eighteen foot basement which will house the airconditioning plant for the new theater. Cement for the remodelled front of the building is also being poured.
-Reno Evening Gazette, July 1, 1938,

1940- S. E. Hagan's widow sells husband's ownership to Walter Hull. Congressional candidates speak at Austin Theater

Platt and Lattin Talk in Austin
A capacity crowd in the Austin Theater last night cheered Samuel Platt, Republican candidate for the U. S. Senate, and Ralph Lattin, candidate for congress, as the candidates condemned the New Deal, President Roosevelt's third-term aspirations and the administration's "Economic unsoundness." Platt again attacked the administration as leading away from the Democratic doctrine. It is plunging inevitable towards dictatorship, he said. He charged that Congress is absolutely subservient to the wishes of the president, and is not exercising its chief prerogative as a check against the president. He pledged every effort to keep ing America out of war if elected to the senate. He appealed to American mothers and fathers to supplant the present administration with a new one and to make the nation so strong it would stand invincible. Lattin termed the campaign a "crusade to select leaders to direct the destiny of America through the greatest struggle the world has ever seen." He accused the New Deal of defeating American nation al ambition, of tripling industry, and checking individual initiative. Mrs. R. A. Foote, first woman to chairman a Republican campaign rally this year, introduced the speakers. The candidates speak at Fallon tonight.
-Nevada State Journal, October 23, 1940

1940- Census shows Steve Rocusky as Theater Manager living on Main St., Austin. He worked for a "private company."

1941- Steve Rocusky, Austin Theater manager, died

AUSTIN THEATER MANAGER DIES
AUSTIN, Nev., May 27 (Special) Steve Rocusky, forty-eight year old manager of the Austin theater, died suddenly last night following a heart attack while preparing to open the theater for the evening performance. He leaves his mother, a brother and two sisters of Mount Carmel, Penn. Funeral services will be held here in the St. Augustine's church here Wednesday morning at ten o'clock.
-Reno Evening Gazette, May 27, 1941
1942- Hull Brothers mentioned as owners of theater in Austin.

1943- Walter E. Hull mentioned as former owner of Austin Theater, "sold recently."

Hull has been owner and co-owner of a chain of theaters through central Nevada for many years. He has operated in McGill, Ely, Ruth, Austin, Fallon, Virginia City, and Carson. The Virginia City and Carson theaters were sold a few years ago, the Austin theater recently.
-Reno Evening Gazette, 1943

1945 The Film Daily Year Book says J.E. Rickards offers portable theater-- no mention of Austin Theater

1950- The Film Daily Year Book for 1950 again has a listing for Austin Theater, with seating for 200

1985 - Called the Lost Balance Bar.