Palo Alto Theater
216 Main Street,
Ruthven,
IA
51358
216 Main Street,
Ruthven,
IA
51358
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The Palo Alto Theater was opened in Summer of 1948. It was badly damaged by a fire in February 1949 that destroyed the interior of the building and all of the theater equipment. After extensive renovation, the theater reopened in June 1949. There was another fire in 1957 which cased the permenent closure of the theatre. The vacant building suffered another fire in 1960.
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Ken McIntyre
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(May 20, 1949)
FIRE DESTROYS RUTHVEN THEATER; LOSS OF $30,000
Ruthven, Ia.â€"(AP)â€"The Palo Alto theater in Ruthven was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon. Preliminary estimates placed the loss at $20,000 to $30,000.
The fire broke out while the theater was closed and there were no reports of any injuries.
The theater was opened last summer following its erection to replace the Legion theater which burned down about two years ago.
Witnesses said the fire was discovered when a huge cloud of oily smoke billowed out the back of the structure. Altho the cause had not been determined it was believed the heavy smoke came from the oil-burning furnace. All of the interior of the structure was destroyed and the concrete block and steel roof exterior was still standing.
A large crowd gathered to watch firemen fight the blaze. The theater is owned by W. R. Arndt.
(November 28, 1957)
Ruthven Theater Gutted By Fire
The Palo Alto theatre in Ruthven was gutted by fire on Thursday night, Nov. 14th. The building was made of quonset ateel and is owned by Mrs. Viola Arndt. The Ruthven Free Press states “that it seems theatres are destined to burn in Ruthven. This being the fourth time in the last ten or twelve ysars.‘’
(February 21, 1949)
Fire Demolishes Ruthven Theater
Ruthven, Ia. â€" (&)â€" Five destroyed the Palo Alto theater here Saturday, causing damage estimated at $20,000 to $30,000. The fire broke out while the heater was closed and there were 10 injuries reported. The theater, a quonset structure, opened last summer to replace the Legion theater which burned down about two years ago.
(July 30, 1936)
Ruthven Theatre Damaged
Last Sunday evening fire of an unknown origin damaged the Electric theatre at Ruthven to such an extent that it could not be used until rehabilitated. The fire broke out on the roof and more than an hour’s time was taken in controlling the blaze.
(July 9, 1936)
Legion Theatre Closed For Lack of Support
The Legion theatre which has been under the management of Lyle Nolan for the past two years closed last Saturday night. Lack of proper support is the reason given for the closing of the Ruthven theatre. The equipment in the Legion theatre is reported to be better than some county seat towns.
Mr. Nolan had the reputation of giving the public many of the latest and best motion picture productions. He has not as yet announced any plans for the future.
(January 30, 1936)
Ruthven Theatre Screen Broken
The Ruthven Free Press reports that a $275 motion picture screen at the theatre at that place, was broken recently. The screen had been moved to the rear of the stage to permit its use for a home talent play. Parties who were replacing the screen let a step ladder fall against it and a large portion was broken out of the center of the screen.
(February 4, 1937)
Legion Theater Opens at Ruthven
Tuesday afternoon and night marked the opening of the American Legion theater which has been completely rebuilt following the fire last July. Since that time Ruthven has been without a show house. L. W. Nolan, who operated the establishment for two and one half years, has again leased the building and will have a show each night.
The members of Ruthven Post No. 33 of the American Legion sold tickets for the opening date at $1.00 each. The proceeds from the ticket sale will be added to the building fund. Besides the evening shows and matinee, there is a free show at 4:15 for all children up to high school age.
The new theater has an auditorium 56x25 feet, a lobby and a foyer. The interior of the building is finished in Nu-wood, hand carved in artistic design. Each side has a mural 12x35 feet painted by a Chicago artist. The lights have rainbow fixtures, which give forty different light combinations.
There are 25O seats of the air lock, springed type, each having 16 springs. They are fully upholstered in red leather and plush.
The screen is a Gardner gold fiber. The Shear system of speakers will he used for sound and the sound will be controlled from the auditorium.
(Ruthven Free Press, February 11, 1948)
W. R. ARNDT GETS LOT FOR THEATER
Will Build Theater Building on Lot Donated by Chamber of Commerce
The site of the former theatre in Ruthven has been turned over to W. R. Arndt, who has agreed to put up and operate a theater. The Chamber of Commerce purchased this lot some weeks ago with the intention of giving it to someone who would build a theatre building.
Plans for the new building call for a 40 by 80 foot all-steel building with a maroon porcelain front. The main entrance will be located in the middle of the front of the building, and the interior will be of sufficient size to accommodate 323 seats. Work on the new theatre building will start as soon as some of the construction material arrives.
The old theater building in Ruthven was destroyed by fire early last May, and the town has been without moving pictures since then, except for several weeks during the summer when shows were held at the school gymnasium.
There’s a lot going on in these articles, which may refer to three different buildings, and definitely two. There is no Quonset style building remaining in town. The address does not exist. The current American Legion building is at 1602 Main. It looks like it’s an old commercial building given a very ugly sheet metal makeover. The 1933 map shows it as two stores, and has the address 406-408. The 200 block then is now the 1400 block, and never had a business of any kind. This should be listed as demolished. It sounds like it was destroyed in the 1960 fire.
Need to rewrite the chronology of the entry. This opened Summer 1948, and burned in 1949 (twice?), 1957, and 1960. It seems to have closed after the 1957 fire. Looks like the name in the articles is always Palo Alto. References to the ‘Ruthven theater’ in those articles are clearly referring to a theater in Ruthven, not a name.
We should create an entry for the Legion theater, which looks like it opened in 1934, and burned in 1936. A new building (on the same site?) opened in 1937, and burned in 1947. There must have been a serial arsonist active here.