Zephyr Theatre

921 Church Street,
Ottumwa, IA 52501

Unfavorite No one has favorited this theater yet

Showing 5 comments

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on May 29, 2018 at 7:22 am

Current function should be: Masonic Lodge

MiltonSmith
MiltonSmith on March 16, 2012 at 12:50 pm

Yes, it looks like they added a 2nd story and removed the tower piece off the Northeast corner of the building but you look and the door placement and the tilework even look VERY similar.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 11, 2011 at 2:58 am

The Zephyr Theatre building had been drastically altered by the time the photo Milton linked to above was taken. A CafePress store that sells objects with old photos and memorabilia on them has this photo depicting how the Zephyr originally looked as Wetherell & Harrison designed it.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 21, 2009 at 11:06 pm

The November 3, 1940, issue of Boxoffice Magazine ran an item saying that excavation had begun for a theater on Church Street in Ottumwa. Although the name of the theater was not given, the photos match the description of the facade of the proposed house, which was to be a brick building faced with glazed tile and glass blocks. The theater was designed by the Des Moines firm Wetherell & Harrison, and was to have 525 seats.

MiltonSmith
MiltonSmith on July 15, 2008 at 5:15 pm

I recently took a trip to Ottumwa and took pictures of this location. It sure looks like the same building that was once a theater but here is some pics. See for yourself.

There are also other pics related to other theaters in Ottumwa, IA. in this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60993177@N00/