Ames Theater
2420 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50010
2420 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50010
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Ames Theater opened around 1919 as the American Theater. The Ames Theater was located on the same block as the Varsity Theater in Ames, Iowa. I don’t know the closing date for this theater but the building still stands and is used as office space. Click the link below for an article on the buildings current use.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
This is an old photo of Lincoln Way in Ames, Nebraska. On the right side is the Ames Theater. A few buildings away from the Ames Theater you can see the Varsity Theater.
LM I found info that the theatre closed some time around 1995. It was operated by Central States Theatres from the 30’s until its closing. I also recall reading something about it being used for live performances when it closed.
Here are before and after renovation photos:
http://tinyurl.com/368wqu
http://tinyurl.com/2myxlr
There are some vintage photos on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/8crft5
1983 photo of the Ames Theatre.
View link
Now an office location (training facility) for Kingland Systems, Inc. See http://www.kingland.com/about_us/locations.php
Here are some more photos:
http://tinyurl.com/npp8fp
When the Ames Theatre was almost completely rebuilt in 1928, the architects for the project were Vorse, Kraetsch and Kraetsch of Des Moines. This, and much additional information, can be found on the web page to which ken mc linked in the comment immediately above.
The lead architect of the firm’s theater projects was Norman T. Vorse, who had designed theaters prior to merging his practice with that of the Kraetsch Brothers in 1919.
When it closed, it was originally purchased by the owner of People’s Bar & Grill with the intention of turning it into a larger live music venue. They made it quite a way into the conversion before they discovered that adding the required number of restrooms would involve tearing up Lincoln Way and adding larger utility feed and sewer lines. Sadly, this made the project cost prohibitive and it was scrapped.