Century III Theatres
507 S. Duff Avenue,
Ames,
IA
50010
507 S. Duff Avenue,
Ames,
IA
50010
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Architected by Norm Rudi, the Century Cinemas I & II was the first theater built as a twin-screen in Ames and launched February 20, 1970 for Heartland Cinemas Circuit. The larger screen was 430 seats at opening — first film “The Undefeated.” And the smaller screen was 270 seats — first film “Gone with the Wind.” The theater was taken over by the Ames Theatre Circuit in December of 1973.
The theater should have been named the Century Dive-In as its South Duff location was frequented by damaging flood waters in 1975, 1993, and 1996. But the knockout was the flood of 1998 which — combined with the Cinemark megaplex built that year — spelled the end of the Century. It was mercifully razed the next year as the Century would not quite last into the new century.
Problem with the Century was it was located in the middle of a flood plain so kept getting flooded. The last time it got flooded was 1998 and never reopened.
20th Century Bowling was/is located at 505 South Duff, presumably next door – to the North of this 509 South Duff site. Apparently the building was demolished, but the sign was left standing.
Looks like it opened in the late 1960s or possibly early 1970s.
The address listed in the newspaper article is 509 South Duff Avenue.