World Theatre

314 Third Avenue SE,
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 2, 2015 at 2:20 pm

The Strand was the project that was the subject of this item from the January 9, 1915, issue of Construction News:

“Cedar Rapids, Iowa—2 Stores (Rent) & Theater, O. O., $85,000, 3rd Av. Archt., W. J. Brown, American Trust Bldg., Cedar Rapids, plans in progress. Owner, Mike Ford, Paving Contractor, 208 2nd Av., Cedar Rapids. Brk. & terra cotta, 2 stys. & bas., 60x140. Storage & scenery. Seat. cap., 1,500. Owner will take bids about Jan. 15, 1915.”
The World Theatre was mentioned as one of his works in the obituary of William Jay Brown in the Feb. 5, 1970, edition of The Cedar Rapids Gazette.

The 1927 FDY lists the Strand Theatre as one of four Cedar Rapids houses operated by Paramount-Publix affiliate A. H. Blank. The other three were the Isis, the Rialto, and the Palace.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on August 10, 2009 at 10:42 pm

Here is an October 1977 ad from the Cedar Rapids Gazette:
http://tinyurl.com/lkskhj

Jakorns
Jakorns on February 25, 2009 at 7:37 pm

See notes about Roy Metcalfe and Fountainbleau Cinemas under the Times theater listing for Cedar Rapids. His Times theater and World theaters both featured electric pump waterfalls in the lobbies.

LonPeterson
LonPeterson on February 6, 2009 at 2:09 pm

I believe the World was owned at one time by Roy Metcalf. He aso owned The Times Theatre in Cedar Rapids and also owned the Evans Theatre in Anamosa Iowa

Jakorns
Jakorns on March 29, 2008 at 10:50 pm

The non profit group that gutted the building completely (balcony, plaster, everything) is now out of business. The building is just an empty shell. Apparently there was some dispute between the president and the board members. The president was the wife of the president of the bank that owns the building.

Jakorns
Jakorns on June 1, 2006 at 5:21 pm

Yes but they are now meeting in various venues. Jason hasn’t updated his website since they left the theatre. The theatre is sitting there and not much has happened since the destruction of the interior. They did board up the front.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on May 24, 2006 at 4:12 pm

The Nexus website is still up and running:
http://tinyurl.com/rst5t

Jakorns
Jakorns on January 15, 2006 at 7:08 pm

After the Strand (World) changed to the State theatre in 1930 the former Olympic theatre at 5101 16th Ave SW became the Strand.

The theatre is gutted now. The bank that owns the building kicked out the night club and a non profit group wants to turn it into an ethnic diversity center (the bank prez’s wife heads the group). They haven’t figured out what to do with the building but everything behind the entryway was gutted (the balcony, and even the plaster on the walls and ceiling were stripped. When I last got into the building the framework for the balcony was there and the wood framing of the proscenium was intact and sections of the plaster at the top of the proscenium had purposly been left in place.
The entryway was reopened to its' original 2 story configuration and tilework and terra cotta that had been covered were revealed for the first time in 60 years. The remnants of the two original ticket booths were uncovered.
The only thing that has been announced for certain is that the facade is to be restored and relit and a replica of the 1915 marquee is to be installed.