Roxy Theatre
139 West 4th Street,
St. Ansgar,
IA
50472
139 West 4th Street,
St. Ansgar,
IA
50472
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Like many theaters, the Roxy had CinemaScope equipment installed in 1954, and inaugurated the new format with biblical epic “The Robe.” The October 30 edition of Motion Picture Herald noted the event.
The Roxy Theatre opened on August 4, 1937 with David Carlyle in “Meet The Boy Friend”, along with the Three Stooges short “Dizzy Doctors”, a musical short “Swing Hutton Swing”, an unnamed color cartoon, and a newsreel (on a 12x16ft screen). The Roxy closed its doors in 1956.
However, this does not mark the end of the Roxy. After being abandoned for 20 years, the 260-seat Roxy made a surprise comeback and reopened under the name “Cinema Capri” on October 7, 1976. Unfortunately, this did not last at all. After three years of bringing back movies, the Capri closed in 1979.
History of the Roxy Theatre April 8, 1937 Work on the new theatre which was scheduled to start April 1, has been delayed due to the abnormal weather. The theatre will go under the name of “The Roxy” and is to be one of the newest and finest in north Iowa. The owner has already purchased the complete sound and projection equipment, and states that it is the finest to be had. It will be equipped with the new syncrophonic sound, which is the latest and is superb in quality. The projectors and other booth equipment are likewise of the best grade. The machines will be equipped with the latest Super-Moralite-Low Intensity arc lamps which will assure the new theatre of having the finest in screen illumination. The screen itself will be 12 feet by 16 feet in size, large enough to make the pictures appear true to life. June 17, 1937 Opening date for the new Roxy Theatre in St. Ansgar, was set tentatively for Wednesday, July 28, 1937. Equipment for the new, modern theatre will be installed within the next few weeks, and St. Ansgar is promised the newest and most beautiful theatre in northeastern Iowa, featuring comfort, convenience, and appearance. It will have the newest and latest synchrophonic sound and latest projection equipment. It will be furnished with comfortable upholstered chairs and interior fixtures and will feature the best pictures available. June 24, 1937 The announcement last week that the theatre would have a crying room has caused considerable merriment the past few days, and has been referred to as the new theatre “Ball Room”. Mr. Anderson explains that it is an accommodation that has been added to theatres within the past year and a half. “The crying room is a place where mothers can take their children when they get fretty and see the picture from a glass window. The room is equipped with a special loud speaker attachment and mothers can sit in there and still get all the show.” July 1, 1937 With the interior decorators scheduled to have the interior of the new Roxy theatre completed this week, the opening date of the theatre has been set for Wednesday, August 4. An unusually good comedy picture has been scheduled for the opening. At the Roxy Friday and Saturday, August 13-14, 1937