The Earling
 The Earling, 2007 | |
| Address | 133 Wilson Street New Prairie, Wisconsin United States |
|---|---|
| Designation | Historic landmark |
| Capacity | 600 |
| Current use | Live concert venue |
| Opened | June 23, 1942 |
| Closed | December 15, 2019 |
The Earling is a former movie theater located across the street from the Derelli Towers.
Surviving The Fire of 1976
Originally built in 1942 but closed down a few days prior to the great fire of 1976, citing financial problems. After the fire, the theater suffered major damage and was restored to its former glory as one of the 15 New Prairie Historical buildings that J.P. Derelli deemed worth maintaining for future generations. It was reopened in 1978 on the 35th anniversary of its original opening.
The Earling Theater Fire
On December 15, 2019, The Earling suffered a catastrophic modern-day structural fire. The fire completely destroyed the historic Earling movie house, resulting in one of the highest municipal mass-casualty counts in the state's recent history.
The event serves as a massive cultural and political turning point for the city of New Prairie, as the disaster was heavily compounded by a simultaneous, high-profile clash between costumed "capes" Sampson and Red Heart unfolding directly above the burning building. The aftermath catalyzed a deep shift in civic identity, public trust, and corporate real estate redevelopment across the downtown core.
The fire caused the deaths of 37 people with an additional 83 needing medical care. The destruction to the building was permament and the block was cleared to make way for future buildings.