Prim Theatre

135 S. Green Avenue,
Primghar, IA 51245

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Additional Info

Functions: Bakery, Cafe

Previous Names: Opera House, Princess Theatre, Time Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Opera House, Primghar, Iowa,1926.

Located on the West side of Courthouse Square. The 300-seat Opera House was opened in 1890. By 1926 it was operating as a movie theatre. By 1930 it had been equipped with a Best sound system. By 1931 it had been renamed Princess Theatre. By 1936 it was the Primghar Theatre. It was operating as the Time Theatre by 1939 with the seating capacity reduced to 275-seats and this was still the same in 1943. By 1950 the seating capacity had returned to 300 and it was operating as the 300-seat Prim Theatre. It was still open in 1956, but had closed by 1957. It was demolished by 1984

Contributed by Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 1 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 15, 2024 at 11:48 am

Henry E. Williams and his brother built the Opera House on the west side of Primghar’s Courthouse Square in 1890. After the house had been leased to a stock company for two years, Williams took over operation himself. In the 1914 Polk guide the theater was listed as the Williams Opera House. Henry Williams operated a number of businesses along the 100 block of Green Avenue, and some of the buildings he had built for them in the late 19th and early 20th century are still standing, but the Opera House is sadly not among them. Judging from views at Historic Aerials, it was demolished prior to 1984. The next previous view is from 1949, so that’s as far as it can be narrowed down for now.

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