Strand Theatre
206 S. Federal Avenue,
Mason City,
IA
50401
206 S. Federal Avenue,
Mason City,
IA
50401
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The Strand Theatre opened in 1935 with seating listed at 568. It was another of the theatres in downtown Mason City operated by Central States Theatres. The theatre closed in 1975.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
In 1957, the Mason City Globe-Gazette was advertising films at the Strand, Cecil, Palace and Lake.
THIS must be the theatre was where the premiere of “The Music Man” took place in 1962, complete with Robert Preston, Shirley Jones and Ronnie Howard, on hand. It was a few blocks away from Meredith Wilson’s boyhood home. It’s now a Wells Fargo bank…IF this is the theatre I’m thinking of. I first thought it was The State Theatre, but that theatre closed in the 50s.
Don: The April 9, 1962, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that the premier of “The Music Man” was to be presented at the Palace Theatre in Mason City. The July 2 issue of the same publication reported on the event, which was held in conjunction with the North Iowa Band Festival and a national Music Man Band Competition.
About 125,000 people crowded into the town, and Meredith Wilson headed a three-hour parade, leading the Mason City band. A total of 8000 bandsmen participated in the parade, and the invitational press premier of the movie was held at the Palace that evening.
According to the obituary of John McKee Heffner, long time Mason City theater man, published in the April 7, 1956, issue of Boxoffice Magazine, the Strand Theatre had earlier been called the Princess Theatre.