Ames Theater
2420 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50010
2420 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50010
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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.
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.
Here are some more photos:
http://tinyurl.com/npp8fp
Now an office location (training facility) for Kingland Systems, Inc. See http://www.kingland.com/about_us/locations.php
1983 photo of the Ames Theatre.
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There are some vintage photos on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/8crft5
Here are before and after renovation photos:
http://tinyurl.com/368wqu
http://tinyurl.com/2myxlr
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.
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.