Avalon Theatre
131 N. Vine Street,
West Union,
IA
52175
131 N. Vine Street,
West Union,
IA
52175
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Closed on March 22, 1981 with “Tundra”.
The building was built in 1884, and was a dry goods store for many years. It’s shown as vacant on the 1913 map. It was apparently damaged when the old masonic lodge next door (then the restaurant) burned down sometime before 2015.
Can’t believe I walked right past this and decided not to bother!
Photo taken May 2019. Theatre building used as office for Iowa Dept. of Human Services. In late March 2020 the building collapsed. The Waterloo paper and the Fayette County paper had articles, however the latter does not seem to have the article on its website. There are some photos on the Fayette County Newspapers' FB page but information is sketchy.
This theatre was originally known as the Princess Theatre dating back at least into the mid-1920’s. It was renamed the Avalon in 1939.
Here is an article from the Oelwein Daily Register dated 3/2/70:
WEST UNION â€" “How many, please?” “How much is the popcorn?” “Where’s the bathroom?” It has been a long time since those questions were posed in West Union, 3 ½ years to be exact, but they are being asked here, now. The Avalon Theater has re-opened.
At Sunday’s grand opening, a good crowd composed largely of young people, attended the premier showing of Elvis Presley’s new movie “Change of Habit”. For West Union citizens accustomed to watching television at home each night or journeying out of town to see a movie, the Avalon Theater offers another choice.
A combined investment by the city and theater manager Duane Vorwald of $40,000 was needed to re-open the Avalon. The money was well-spent. Located on Vine Street, only the outside remains to be remodeled. Inside everything is new. Chandeliers hang overhead in the lobby. The walls are paneled. Carpeting on the floor and a concession stand of glittering metal and polished glass give the 250-seat movie house a touch of elegance. Sunday, there were flowers everywhere.
The Avalon will have movies every night of the week except Wednesdays. If the movie is good enough, it will run Wednesdays too. It all depends on the moviegoers.
For Vorwald, the theater business is a second job. He’s also a salesman. Thus, operating theaters in Elkader and West Union requires the assistance of his family. Wife Meralda sells tickets, keeps the books and cleans up. Daughter Nancy works behind the concession stands. Son Kevin will become the full-time manager of the Avalon.
It’s a good looking place. The scats are comfortable, the schedule of upcoming movies impressive, and the popcorn is good, too. Call the Avalon Theater a nice place to visit and if you do, the West
Union Chamber of Commerce will call their city a nice place to live. Quite a combination for northeast Iowa.