Capri Theatre

During the 50's there was a neighborhood size house located at 4115 University Ave. called the Uptown Theatre. Do you know when the Capri was built or was it always called the Capri. The Uptown Theatre seated 700 people. There is a building that could be the size of it. Address is 4115 University Ave. Des Moines, IA 50311-3574 for your search.

Looks like you solved this one. A blog gives this information: "Capri, formerly the Uptown, located on University across from the Safeway plaza at 42nd street."

Just curious then should the header be changed to 4115 University Ave.?

The December 21, 1964, issue of Boxoffice said that the Capri was in the old Uptown business district, across the street from an Uptown Shopping Center which was then under construction. It also said that the theater had long been "a bright spot" in the neighborhood, though it didn't mention the house having had a previous name.

1985 photo of the Capri Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c15%2c3%2c-1&SortField=ProductName%2cProductName&ProductID=27256

OMG! The slapped one of those 1970s modern-rustic fronts on it! What an appalling thing to do!

The Uptown Theatre at 41st and University opened in 1935 and was operated by Tri-States Theater Corp. In 1964 I was able to obtain the lease from Glen Wallace, the then owner of the Uptown Shopping Center. After a complete remodeling job, I reopened it as the Capri on November 10, 1960 with the roadshow presentation of BEN-HUR in 65 millimeter and six tracks of sterephonic sound. We then played most of the big roadshows including a two-year, two week engagement in 1965 an 1966 of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. In the late seventies I sold it to Dubinsky Theatres who was my partner in the River Hills/Riviera Theatres. I would welcome a visit from anyone interested in Iowa Theatres. From 1929 on spent a great deal of my youth in them.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC's record 113-week engagement at the Capri was from April 7, 1965 - June 6, 1967.