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 Mars Under The Stars Drive-In was first (and only) operated by the March Bros Theatres chain and opened its gates on May 29, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Yellowstone Cubs” and the 1962 smash “The Music Man”. It was first managed by Chuck Houston and later taken over by Tim Collins a couple years later. Throughout its entire history, the drive-in was operated by the March Bros chain.
The theater closed for the final time on June 19, 1986 with “Cobra” due to low attendance.
The Royal Theatre opened its doors on September 14, 1914 with a live presentation of ‘The Mascot" led by the Boston Ideal Opera Company and the theater’s 6-piece orchestra led by Mr. Niles. The 60x100ft theater originally housed 600 seats, and was first operated by the Royal Amusement Company. It would eventually screen movies shortly afterward. The March Bros. chain took over the Royal in 1934 from Dudley C. Scott. The Royal was remodeled in October 1939 and again in July 1967.
In June 1969, the Royal Theatre was twinned, causing its capacity to downgrade from 600 to 385 (with 275 seats in Screen 1 and 110 seats in Screen 2). Screen 1 featured stereo sound, while Screen 2 originally featured mono sound until August 1988 when stereo sound was installed inside Screen 2 during a major upgrade which featured updates to both projection, screen covers, and sound systems.
A third screen was added in September 1996 causing another remodel. Screen 1’s capacity was yet again downgraded from 275 to 110, while Screen 2 remains the same. Screen 3 featured 150 seats and stereo sound. Because of Screen 3’s addiction, the total capacity of the theater stands at 370 seats.
The Princess Theatre was once closed on December 1, 1983 due to lease expiration. The Princess reopened with new management led by Tom Thorn on April 6, 1984. As of the mid-1980s, the Princess operates six-days-a-week (Friday to Wednesday).
The Princess Theatre closed for the final time on January 8, 1986 with “Sweet Dreams” (very unique title for a theater’s closure). However, its neighboring video store remained open after the theater’s closure.
Allan Banks opened his 325-seat Vogue Theatre on September 17, 1937 with Stuart Erwin in “Dance, Charlie, Dance” (unclear if any short subjects were added).
During its later heyday, the Vogue was once operated by Jim Heldsech. Heldsech closed the Vogue on March 3, 1973 and the theater sat abandoned for 13 months due to renovation. The Vogue reopened on April 5, 1974, but this didn’t last long at all.
The Vogue closed for the final time on January 8, 1975 with “Wonder Of It All”, and the marquee was removed in April 1980.
The Grand Opera House opened its doors on October 30, 1911 with a special event led by the extinct Remsen Symphony Orchestra. It was renamed the Grand Theatre in 1933.
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.
The Mars Under The Stars Drive-In was first (and only) operated by the March Bros Theatres chain and opened its gates on May 29, 1964 with Walt Disney’s “Yellowstone Cubs” and the 1962 smash “The Music Man”. It was first managed by Chuck Houston and later taken over by Tim Collins a couple years later. Throughout its entire history, the drive-in was operated by the March Bros chain.
The theater closed for the final time on June 19, 1986 with “Cobra” due to low attendance.
The Royal Theatre opened its doors on September 14, 1914 with a live presentation of ‘The Mascot" led by the Boston Ideal Opera Company and the theater’s 6-piece orchestra led by Mr. Niles. The 60x100ft theater originally housed 600 seats, and was first operated by the Royal Amusement Company. It would eventually screen movies shortly afterward. The March Bros. chain took over the Royal in 1934 from Dudley C. Scott. The Royal was remodeled in October 1939 and again in July 1967.
In June 1969, the Royal Theatre was twinned, causing its capacity to downgrade from 600 to 385 (with 275 seats in Screen 1 and 110 seats in Screen 2). Screen 1 featured stereo sound, while Screen 2 originally featured mono sound until August 1988 when stereo sound was installed inside Screen 2 during a major upgrade which featured updates to both projection, screen covers, and sound systems.
A third screen was added in September 1996 causing another remodel. Screen 1’s capacity was yet again downgraded from 275 to 110, while Screen 2 remains the same. Screen 3 featured 150 seats and stereo sound. Because of Screen 3’s addiction, the total capacity of the theater stands at 370 seats.
The Princess Theatre was once closed on December 1, 1983 due to lease expiration. The Princess reopened with new management led by Tom Thorn on April 6, 1984. As of the mid-1980s, the Princess operates six-days-a-week (Friday to Wednesday).
The Princess Theatre closed for the final time on January 8, 1986 with “Sweet Dreams” (very unique title for a theater’s closure). However, its neighboring video store remained open after the theater’s closure.
Anytime!
Allan Banks opened his 325-seat Vogue Theatre on September 17, 1937 with Stuart Erwin in “Dance, Charlie, Dance” (unclear if any short subjects were added).
During its later heyday, the Vogue was once operated by Jim Heldsech. Heldsech closed the Vogue on March 3, 1973 and the theater sat abandoned for 13 months due to renovation. The Vogue reopened on April 5, 1974, but this didn’t last long at all.
The Vogue closed for the final time on January 8, 1975 with “Wonder Of It All”, and the marquee was removed in April 1980.
The Grand Opera House opened its doors on October 30, 1911 with a special event led by the extinct Remsen Symphony Orchestra. It was renamed the Grand Theatre in 1933.
Closed on March 22, 1981 with “Tundra”.