The Granada Theatre was renamed the Webster Theatre on February 19, 1939 after a five-week closure due to remodeling, reopening with Henry Fonda in “Jesse James” along with Paramount Pictorial and Paramount News.
The Pioneer Theaters chain operated the theater throughout the entirety of the golden age of films. Pioneer operated the theater from 1930 until Fridley Theatres took over the Webster from Pioneer in July 1988.
Actually, there are four Germania Opera Houses. During its early heyday, it was once known as “Germania Hall”. The Germania was relocated multiple times throughout much of 1894 to 1914.
The first one opened in 1894 and closed in 1907, the second one opened in 1907 and closed in May 1913, the third one opened in May 31, 1913 and closed in May 1914, and the fourth/current one opened on May 18, 1914.
The theater opened on May 19, 1949 with Robert Page in “Red Stallion” along with an unnamed cartoon, a sportlight, and an unnamed musical short. It closed after the 1955 season.
The Circle Theatre opened its doors on January 19, 1920, and was renamed the Capitol in 1926. The Capitol Theatre closed in 1985 when it was sub-divided and also incorporated the adjacent to the Capri V Theatre. The main auditorium officially became Screen #5 of the Capri V.
The Princess Theatre opened in 1912, renamed the Square Theatre in June 1925, and renamed the Ottumwa Theatre on December 25, 1930.
The April 21, 1941 fire occurred during intermission at approximately 6:57 PM right before a showing of Deanna Durbin in “Nice Girl” and Hugh Hubert in “Meet The Chump” with no extras. The fire estimates a total loss of $100K, typically one of the largest theater losses in Iowa. The fire started under the west stairway leading to the balcony.
John J. Johnston of 505 South Milner Street, the projectionist at the time for the 1,160-seat Ottumwa Theatre, was on-duty at the time when he smelled smoke. Johnston rushed down to the doorman of the theater, Kenneth Shipley of 620 Richmond Avenue, told him that there is smoke. Shipley replied then went to the stage at the auditorium and calmly said that there was smoke. The operator then turned off the power and left the theater. Everyone evacuated at the time right when the smoke started to worsen. Shipley said that there was a flame while looking through a view of the projection room alongside the west wall of the balcony near where the center aisle crosses. The theater’s manager at the time, Kermit B. Carr, was eating dinner in his house when he notified about the fire. He quickly got into his car and drove to the theater when he saw the flames, 14 hoses battling the flames, the marquee partially destroyed, and the side walls coming down. Over 10,000 people including Police Chief Carl M. Higdon witnessed the fire. The nearby gas company building was also impacted by the flames.
Right after the fire was extinguished at the Ottumwa Theatre, the neighboring Capitol Theatre manager at the time, Russell Hill, asked patrons to leave a few minutes after the fire.
The Ottumwa Theatre reopened its doors after reconstruction from the fire on May 28, 1942 with the Midwest premiere of John Wayne in “Reap The Wild Wind” with no extra short subjects.
It was renamed Capri Theatre on January 10, 1968 after a $30,000 remodeling project. The theater held on as a single-screener until it was converted into a 5-plex on December 20, 1985, renaming it as the Capri V Theatre.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In opened its gates on July 14, 1953 with Joseph Cotton in “Untamed Frontier” along with a couple of cartoons. It started life under the name “South Drive-In”. It was first managed by Jake Cohen and first operated by Ottumwa Theatres Incorporated.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In closed for the final time after the 1995 season due to poor business, and the theater was torn down in May 1996.
The Clark Theatre opened its doors on July 30, 1926 with Clara Bow In “Mantrap” with no extra short subjects, and was renamed the Vacaville Theatre in mid-1932. The Vacaville Theatre closed as a movie house in 1983.
Robert A. “Bob” Oliver opened the Iowa Theatre’s doors with an estimate $30,000 in construction on April 15, 1937 with Fred MacMurray in “Swing High Swing Low” along with special performances by the city’s high school band and a ceremonial speech delivered by Floyd Sammon. Otherwise, it was unclear if any short subjects were added.
Original information as of 1937 goes as follows: The original lobby features a red cement floor and all indirectly lighted with soft light on the display boards. The box-office exterior was lighted with trimmed glass with chromium metal trimming. The original lights in the foyer were all installed by E. Maurice Bakke, and they carry two different color circuits which make possible three distinct blends of color combinations. The auditorium featured a variegated tan scheme in the walls and ceiling, and on each side walls vertical tiers of plasters fluted with chromium metal and hatches of opalescent glass for indirect lighting at the sides of the room, and were finished in Nu-wood.
The auditorium floor slopes about an inch-to-a-foot and the seat rows are placed 32in apart and are staggered assuring comfort and good vision of the screen. There is also a 28-seat balcony only for special occasions such as parties. On the second floor is an office and directly to the south is the projection hooked up with Western Electric Mirrophonic sound. The original air conditioner changes temperature during each season with an estimate every four-and-a-half minutes, and the carpeting was done by the Scott Ballantyne Company.
The original Iowa Theatre sign was created by the Kern Advertising Company of 310 Virginia Street, Sioux City, Iowa. The original color scheme of the sign featured a marine, green, gold, blue, and red neon lighting in a blue background. However the sign lasted until November 1959 when it was replaced by its current red and white V-shaped marquee.
Yes, Kerasotes operated the Gateway Mall Cinema throughout most of its history. Kerasotes began operating all Richmond theaters in 1976.
The Gateway operated as a Kerasotes from 1976 until 1995 when the chain lost all the monopoly on Richmond’s movie market. It officially became a DanBarry theater for a short period of time, but briefly flipped back to Kerasotes one week before the Gateway Mall Cinema’s closure.
Kerasotes closed the Hi-Way after the 1984 season. They promised to reopen for the 1985 season but didn’t happen because of vandalism in theater property.
David and Joseph Warnock opened the Luna Theatre on August 28, 1914 with the one-reeler “And The Villain Still Pursued Her” and the two-reeler “The Secret Marriage” plus a performance by the theater’s orchestra conducted by one of the owners.
On November 1, 1958, the Luna Theater closed and was placed in auction. The theater reopened as the “Maple Valley Theater” on November 21, 1958. This didn’t last long, and the theater closed a few months later in early 1959.
The Granada Theatre was renamed the Webster Theatre on February 19, 1939 after a five-week closure due to remodeling, reopening with Henry Fonda in “Jesse James” along with Paramount Pictorial and Paramount News.
The Pioneer Theaters chain operated the theater throughout the entirety of the golden age of films. Pioneer operated the theater from 1930 until Fridley Theatres took over the Webster from Pioneer in July 1988.
George Lehmann opened the Lyric Theatre in January 1912, and closed in 1916.
The Chris-Town is also the Phoenix area’s first THX-certified theater.
The Har-Mar is also the Twin Cities' first THX-certified theater.
I’m strongly sure that this started life as the Grand Opera House, but I know it was known as Capitol Theatre since as early as 1927.
The Capitol Theatre closed for the final time on January 17, 1980 with Robert F. Logan in “Mountain Family Robinson”.
Actually, there are four Germania Opera Houses. During its early heyday, it was once known as “Germania Hall”. The Germania was relocated multiple times throughout much of 1894 to 1914.
The first one opened in 1894 and closed in 1907, the second one opened in 1907 and closed in May 1913, the third one opened in May 31, 1913 and closed in May 1914, and the fourth/current one opened on May 18, 1914.
Opened on May 17, 1924 with Mae Marsh in “Daddies” along with a comedy short “Back To Earth”.
Closed on November 30, 1976.
Closed on October 10, 1985 with “Invasion USA” and “Future Kill”.
Closed on December 16, 2004.
The theater opened on May 19, 1949 with Robert Page in “Red Stallion” along with an unnamed cartoon, a sportlight, and an unnamed musical short. It closed after the 1955 season.
The Circle Theatre opened its doors on January 19, 1920, and was renamed the Capitol in 1926. The Capitol Theatre closed in 1985 when it was sub-divided and also incorporated the adjacent to the Capri V Theatre. The main auditorium officially became Screen #5 of the Capri V.
The Princess Theatre opened in 1912, renamed the Square Theatre in June 1925, and renamed the Ottumwa Theatre on December 25, 1930.
The April 21, 1941 fire occurred during intermission at approximately 6:57 PM right before a showing of Deanna Durbin in “Nice Girl” and Hugh Hubert in “Meet The Chump” with no extras. The fire estimates a total loss of $100K, typically one of the largest theater losses in Iowa. The fire started under the west stairway leading to the balcony.
John J. Johnston of 505 South Milner Street, the projectionist at the time for the 1,160-seat Ottumwa Theatre, was on-duty at the time when he smelled smoke. Johnston rushed down to the doorman of the theater, Kenneth Shipley of 620 Richmond Avenue, told him that there is smoke. Shipley replied then went to the stage at the auditorium and calmly said that there was smoke. The operator then turned off the power and left the theater. Everyone evacuated at the time right when the smoke started to worsen. Shipley said that there was a flame while looking through a view of the projection room alongside the west wall of the balcony near where the center aisle crosses. The theater’s manager at the time, Kermit B. Carr, was eating dinner in his house when he notified about the fire. He quickly got into his car and drove to the theater when he saw the flames, 14 hoses battling the flames, the marquee partially destroyed, and the side walls coming down. Over 10,000 people including Police Chief Carl M. Higdon witnessed the fire. The nearby gas company building was also impacted by the flames.
Right after the fire was extinguished at the Ottumwa Theatre, the neighboring Capitol Theatre manager at the time, Russell Hill, asked patrons to leave a few minutes after the fire.
The Ottumwa Theatre reopened its doors after reconstruction from the fire on May 28, 1942 with the Midwest premiere of John Wayne in “Reap The Wild Wind” with no extra short subjects.
It was renamed Capri Theatre on January 10, 1968 after a $30,000 remodeling project. The theater held on as a single-screener until it was converted into a 5-plex on December 20, 1985, renaming it as the Capri V Theatre.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In opened its gates on July 14, 1953 with Joseph Cotton in “Untamed Frontier” along with a couple of cartoons. It started life under the name “South Drive-In”. It was first managed by Jake Cohen and first operated by Ottumwa Theatres Incorporated.
The South Ottumwa Drive-In closed for the final time after the 1995 season due to poor business, and the theater was torn down in May 1996.
Opened on December 17, 2004.
The Clark Theatre opened its doors on July 30, 1926 with Clara Bow In “Mantrap” with no extra short subjects, and was renamed the Vacaville Theatre in mid-1932. The Vacaville Theatre closed as a movie house in 1983.
A 1982 aerial view shows the theater completely demolished, so it appears that it may’ve demolished in the early-1980s.
Opened in 1951, closed in the late-1970s.
Opened on November 20, 1926.
Robert A. “Bob” Oliver opened the Iowa Theatre’s doors with an estimate $30,000 in construction on April 15, 1937 with Fred MacMurray in “Swing High Swing Low” along with special performances by the city’s high school band and a ceremonial speech delivered by Floyd Sammon. Otherwise, it was unclear if any short subjects were added.
Original information as of 1937 goes as follows: The original lobby features a red cement floor and all indirectly lighted with soft light on the display boards. The box-office exterior was lighted with trimmed glass with chromium metal trimming. The original lights in the foyer were all installed by E. Maurice Bakke, and they carry two different color circuits which make possible three distinct blends of color combinations. The auditorium featured a variegated tan scheme in the walls and ceiling, and on each side walls vertical tiers of plasters fluted with chromium metal and hatches of opalescent glass for indirect lighting at the sides of the room, and were finished in Nu-wood.
The auditorium floor slopes about an inch-to-a-foot and the seat rows are placed 32in apart and are staggered assuring comfort and good vision of the screen. There is also a 28-seat balcony only for special occasions such as parties. On the second floor is an office and directly to the south is the projection hooked up with Western Electric Mirrophonic sound. The original air conditioner changes temperature during each season with an estimate every four-and-a-half minutes, and the carpeting was done by the Scott Ballantyne Company.
The original Iowa Theatre sign was created by the Kern Advertising Company of 310 Virginia Street, Sioux City, Iowa. The original color scheme of the sign featured a marine, green, gold, blue, and red neon lighting in a blue background. However the sign lasted until November 1959 when it was replaced by its current red and white V-shaped marquee.
The Metro 4 appears that it switched to discount in January 1992, and closed later that same year.
Yes, Kerasotes operated the Gateway Mall Cinema throughout most of its history. Kerasotes began operating all Richmond theaters in 1976.
The Gateway operated as a Kerasotes from 1976 until 1995 when the chain lost all the monopoly on Richmond’s movie market. It officially became a DanBarry theater for a short period of time, but briefly flipped back to Kerasotes one week before the Gateway Mall Cinema’s closure.
Once operated by Kerasotes.
Kerasotes closed the Hi-Way after the 1984 season. They promised to reopen for the 1985 season but didn’t happen because of vandalism in theater property.
David and Joseph Warnock opened the Luna Theatre on August 28, 1914 with the one-reeler “And The Villain Still Pursued Her” and the two-reeler “The Secret Marriage” plus a performance by the theater’s orchestra conducted by one of the owners.
On November 1, 1958, the Luna Theater closed and was placed in auction. The theater reopened as the “Maple Valley Theater” on November 21, 1958. This didn’t last long, and the theater closed a few months later in early 1959.