Date in History: 1964
Every year, hundreds of buses arrive in Fort Atkinson, making it the number one bus tour destination in all of Wisconsin. They all come here because of a dream that began in 1964.
The Fireside Dinner Theatre was started by Dick and Betty Klopcic who wanted to build an intimate restaurant where people would truly feel welcomed and want to come back again and again. The original structure was just 60’ x 60’ with a pyramid shaped roof that included a small bar area and seating for 120 diners.
In the spring of 1978, after a major expansion to incorporate a new theater area, the first theatrical production, South Pacific, was shown in the new 435 seat theatre-in-the-round.
Their original dream can now accommodate up to 1,000 dinner guests and 652 theatre patrons. The Fireside Complex now includes shops, a bakery and a lounge where the original bar once stood.
This historic document aired on the radio as an Historic Minute on 03/27/2006.