Iris Theatre
122 W. Greene Street,
Postville,
IA
52162
122 W. Greene Street,
Postville,
IA
52162
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Opened in 1930, the Iris Theatre was located on W. Greene Street at N. Lawler Street in the main business section of Postville. It was closed in 1979.
The building is still there but I couldn’t find what type of business in the building. Any further info on this theatre would be appreciated.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Was once owned by Lloyd E. Palmer. Then sold to Ethel and Steve Folsom. Ethel was the sister-in-law of Lloyd. Ethel ran the business and Steve was the projectionist.
Ethel passed in 1996 and Steve passed in 2010.
Not sure when the theater was closed but the space was later occupied by a drug store operated by Jim and Kathy DeMong. Jim DeMong was also the pharmacist and the Fire Chief of Postville.
Peculiar twist – Jim DeMong and the grandson of Lloyd Palmer, Jim Palmer, were Sigma Chi fraternity brothers at the University of Iowa.
More information –
Lloyd E. Palmer operated a silent movie theater across from where the Iris was ultimately built. His wife Bertha Palmer played the piano.
The Iris Theater was built in 1929-30. Grand Opening was held on Christmas Day 1930. First movie shown was Min & Bill.
My grandfather built the theater with financial backing from the Schutte family, and rented the space for $150/month for many years.
The original sound system was a “Wide Range-Western Electric” which was the best that could be purchased at the time. Projectors were also Western Electric.
Th
The Projectors we also believed to be Western Electric.
Unless it was rebuilt or the name was moved at some time (I can’t find any indication that either of these took place) this was a very old theater. Lloyd Palmer took over the Iris in 1924, according to a brief article about him (center column, right page) in Boxoffice, November 5, 1955.
Mr.Palmer was not a big fan of musicals or costume dramas, judging from his letter to the editor (upper left) published in Boxoffice of February 11, 1956.
Well, I guess it’s not a good idea to leave an unposted comment on an open browser tab overnight. The theater across the street must have been the one Lloyd Palmer took over in 1924.
I talked with my dad, Lloyd J. Palmer, who is Lloyd E. Palmer’s son.
He recalled that his mother and father ran a silent movie theater on the north side of Green St. Might have been the original Iris.
He also remembered accompanying his dad to Minneapolis to look at theaters on which to base the “new” Iris design. He mentioned North Penn St.
Additionally, the Iris theater ceased operation sometime in 1979.