The Genial Mr. Kelley

Edward Francis Kelley (1872-1960)

Edward F. Kelley, a Wilmette businessman, and his friend Frank J. Seng, opened Wilmette's second movie theater on June 20, 1914. Their Village Theatre at 1150 Wilmette Ave., remained in operation for fourteen years. It’s not certain what started them on this project since neither man was in the theater business. Kelley was an executive in a candy company famous for its candy corn, and Seng ran a transportation company. An article was published in the Wilmette Life, January 20, 1928, shortly before the two men closed the Village Theater citing press of other business. The article implied the men had started the theater as a public service:

“Back in 1913 Edward F. Kelly [sic], now living at 1100 Elmwood avenue, one day remarked to F. J. Seng of 435 Lake avenue that he was about to rent a store or hall and secure a motion picture machine in order to provide the young people of the village with wholesome entertainment. Mr. Seng’s reply was: “Let’s build a regular theater and have a real show house where all the villagers can find entertainment.” And thus the Village Theater company came into being.”

Another hint about Kelley’s motives comes from his grandson, Bill Kelley, vice chairman of the Jelly Belly Candy Company. It appears that Edward F. Kelley just loved the movies.

“My grandfather was quite a character…. [He] not only started the movie theater, he took leave from the candy business and went to Hollywood in the 1920s. He was in a movie with Zasu Pitts called “My Cannibal Wife." [sic] We think he was an extra, which means a cannibal!"

Kelley, clearly a born showman, arranged a festive event for the grand opening of the Village Theatre on June 20, 1914. Since Edward Kelley and Frank Seng were well known in the village, there were sponsors from the society pages for opening night. The newspaper described a sellout opening performance with a “merry crowd” of 1400 people. Historian Herbert Mulford, in his book, Wilmette and the Suburban Whirl, describes the decorative sidewalk marquee which included a portrait of Wilmette's founder, Antoine Ouilmette, in his coon-skin cap. Roses were presented to all the ladies. There was a grand preliminary program on the Kimball organ by the theater’s organist, Prof. Monnet. "The genial Mr. Kelley,” as the paper described him, welcomed the Wilmette residents soliciting comments and suggestions to help make the theatre a community affair. He introduced the new theater manager, Myron Sparr, while the organist played “Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?"

“The Breezy Comedian”
Edward Kelley was a social man who enjoyed the company of others and relished a good time. He was an active member of several community clubs and organizations. A 1914 article in the Lake Shore News describes a vaudeville show at the Ouilmette Country Club, and provides us with an example. Edward Kelley performed a well received monologue during the festivities.

“Edward F. Kelley, the popular local comedian, who has often appeared in home talent theatricals, scored heavily in a monologue and impersonation. He was styled “The Breezy Comedian”

Kelley had extensive contacts in the movie industry. In addition to his appearance as a cannibal, he was well acquainted with Charlie Chaplin who had started his career in the Chicago area.

Next to being in the movies, Edward F. Kelley enjoyed creating his own. The local newsreels he made were shown as extra features at the Village Theater. Wilmette movie goers were encouraged to see themselves "as others see them" at the beach and other places around town. Kelley's grandson, Bill Kelley, has a story about one such photo-journalism attempt that did not go smoothly.

" Ed was a pioneer photographer and home movie maker. He was at Wilmette beach one day filming…when a man in the water began to drown. Someone pulled him from the water and Ed caught the whole thing on film. However, onlookers were so incensed that he would film such a thing that they beat his camera to splinters!”

The Village Movie issue for 2 September 1916 reported that Kelley had a new and better camera. Perhaps the above story explains why.

Civic minded
In 1917 when American involvement in World War I began to be inevitable, citizens of Wilmette took stock of what they could do to aid the war effort. The Men’s Club of Wilmette formed committees to assist the Wilmette Guard, a local civil defense organization. An article written by Kelley’s friend Frank Seng gives a list of the committees and the men assigned to them. Appropriately both Seng and Kelley were assigned to “Publicity” along with C. D. Heller and J. B. Whidden. Edward F. Kelley, 1133 Wilmette Ave., also was a volunteer registrar for the military draft, earning the thanks of the Wilmette Guard in the newspaper.

Kelley’s civic nature was also called upon following the tornado that hit Wilmette on Palm Sunday of 1920. Both Kelley and Seng are found among the members of the Village Tornado Relief Fund which launched the work of reconstruction of homes destroyed by the storm and other relief work.

Born in Pennsylvania
Edward F. Kelley, was born 17 February 1872 in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1901 he became the bookkeeper at Goelitz Confectionery Company in Cincinnati. His cousin, William Kelley, and Adolph Gustav Goelitz started the company in 1898 specializing in the new “butter cream” candies, especially candy corn. Ed fell in love with one of the Goelitz sisters, Joanna, and married her, formally joining the Goelitz and Kelley clans into a family partnership. The Goelitz Confectionery Co. prospered, and in 1913 opened a new plant in North Chicago where rail service and affordable land was available.

Edward and Joanna Goelitz Kelley settled in Wilmette several years before the new factory opened in North Chicago. The 1909 Wilmette telephone book has an entry for Edward F. Kelley living at 1133 Elmwood St., a lovely duplex house still standing today. The Wilmette Historical Society has birth certificates for two of his children, Ned (Edward Herman Kelley) born in 1909 and Fran (Francis Joseph Kelley) born in 1913, both in the house at 1133 Elmwood. Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Kelley were members of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church on the east side of Wilmette.

In 1923 Edward F. and Joanna Kelley bought a house down the street at 1100 Elmwood. Kelley lived there until his death on March 3, 1960. His grandson, Bill Kelley, says the house remained in the Kelley family until 1988.

A funeral mass was held for Edward F. Kelley at his church, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, in Wilmette. His obituary listed as survivors his widow, Joanna; a daughter, Mrs. Kathryn Morrison; three sons, William H., Edward H. and Francis J.; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren, and a sister.

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