Fine Arts Theatre

4301 Fleur Drive,
Des Moines, IA 50321

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on August 3, 2025 at 7:31 pm

The Wakonda Shopping Center was announced way back in 1957. The project stalled but finally got contracts for building and its anchor tenant in 1963 with the Center finally opened theatre-less in November of 1964. Richard L. Davis' Davis Theatres teamed with Heartland Cinema Co. to build a venue here in 1969. Davis had the River Hills / Cinerama complex and the Eastgate twin. It was a luxury suburban venue seating 344 patrons opening in 1969.

The third operator of the venue, Fridley Theatres Circuit, closed the Fine Arts on December 6, 1987 with “I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” and “Jean de Florette.” The theater had been scuffling closing temporarily in the summer of 1987 due to lack of business.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 5, 2022 at 10:41 pm

This reopened as The Movies on April 4th, 1980, with 2 screens and renamed Fine Arts on September 3rd, 1983, showing classic movies. closed 1987.