Favorite Amusement Company

The unimproved property located at this corner was purchased by brothers, Harry and Eugene Freund during the Spring of 1909. Three days later, the Freund's were granted a building permit to construct a one-story brick odeon designed by William Wedemeyer. An odeon was a small theater typically showing a series of fifteen to twenty minute silent films accompanied by a piano player player or organist. Odeons remained hugely popular until the advent of the feature length films in 1915. Adding to the decline of odeons was the construction of larger, more ornate theaters. The Freunds operated the Favorite Amusement Company at this location, showing films until 1917.

Previously working with their father, Sigmund, in the clothing retail market, the purchase and the improvements marked the Freund's first foray into the real estate business on Cherokee Street. Following the construction of 2701-03 Cherokee, the Freund's constructed several other prominent buildings in the community including the Cinderella Theater and the Casa Loma Ballroom.

The former odeon was converted to contain two separate stores. The Freunds leased the eastern portion in 1917 to Jacob Godlove who sold ladies' furnishings. The western half was occupied by William Trahanas who launched the Cinderella Candy Company in 1919. The Godlove family purchased



the building from the Freunds in 1921 and continued to operate a furnishing store at this location for nearly fifty years. During World War II, 2703 Cherokee was incorporated with the Kresge 5 and 10 Cent Store to the west.

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