Prim Theatre
135 S. Green Avenue,
Primghar,
IA
51245
135 S. Green Avenue,
Primghar,
IA
51245
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Opera House, Primghar Opera House, Primghar Theatre, Time Theatre
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Located on the West side of Courthouse Square. The 300-seat Opera House was opened in 1890. By 1926 it was operating as a movie theatre and by 1928 it was the Primghar Theatre. By 1930 it had been equipped with a Best sound system. It was operating as the Time Theatre from 1937, with the seating capacity reduced to 275-seats. On January 14, 1943 it was renamed Prim Theatre. By 1950 the seating capacity had returned to 300-seats. It was still open in 1956, but had closed by 1957. It was demolished by 1984.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Henry E. Williams and his brother built the Opera House on the west side of Primghar’s Courthouse Square in 1890. After the house had been leased to a stock company for two years, Williams took over operation himself. In the 1914 Polk guide the theater was listed as the Williams Opera House. Henry Williams operated a number of businesses along the 100 block of Green Avenue, and some of the buildings he had built for them in the late 19th and early 20th century are still standing, but the Opera House is sadly not among them. Judging from views at Historic Aerials, it was demolished prior to 1984. The next previous view is from 1949, so that’s as far as it can be narrowed down for now.
This started life as the Opera House, and was renamed several times over the years. It was later renamed the Primghar Opera House, then the Primghar Theatre in 1928, the Time Theatre in 1937, and finally the Prim Theatre on January 14, 1943.