Lyric Theatre

217 W. Water Street,
Decorah, IA 52101

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SethG
SethG on August 4, 2023 at 10:33 am

Building is not demolished, but it has been disfigured with a nasty ‘modern’ slipcover, which seems to have been added before the theater closed. It’s now the location of a boutique. The building was constructed in 1898 as a dry goods store, but was vacant by early 1914. The original facade featured gorgeous multicolored brickwork with bold patterns, and a central oriel. Architects were Orff and Guillbert of Minneapolis.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on October 3, 2022 at 8:35 pm

Ellen Larsen opened the Lyric Theatre on September 7, 1914 in the Mrs. Iver Larsen building in downtown Decorah. Bathed in ivory and olive, the venue sold out its first motion picture show. The theatre added sound to remain viable. In the 1960s, it rotated bookings seasonally with the local drive-in. The Lyric closed permanently following the December 11, 1971 showing of Alan Alda in “Paper Lion.” The new Viking Theatre opened the next day with “West Side Story.”

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on December 19, 2010 at 7:02 am

Decorah is the home of Luther College, I bet lots of college students used to go to the Lyric.

Sure could use an address, more info and photos.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 18, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Thanks Chuck1231.