Temple Theater

The town was mistakenly listed as Villisea in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, when the only house listed was called the Temple Theatre. This house doesn’t seem very temple-like, but theater owners have seldom been without a capacity for hyperbole. It might have survived until 1914, maybe even longer. The 1926 FDY lists a house called the Cozy theatre, though it’s seating capacity (200) is not given until the 1929 edition. 305 S. 4th would certainly have been cozy….

It occurs to me that movies shown in a used furniture store would likely have plenty of seats available, some probably quite comfy, and there might even be a piano available. It would be a good way to pick up some extra income with minimal additional investment. If the movie business prospered enough you could phase out the furniture sales, and if it didn’t you still had your income from selling furniture. It’s not as goofy a business plan as it might seem at first glance.

It turns out that the Temple Theatre at Villisca is mentioned in the May, 1911 issue of Motography, being operated by a Dr. F. M. Childs. To my mind (such as it is) that increases the odds that the Temple was the house at 305 S. 4th. That by June, 1919, an F. M. Childs of the Cozy (sometimes Kozy) Theatre in Villisca was providing capsule movie reviews to Exhibitors Herald And Motography is equally tantalizing.

One fly in the ointment (or perhaps in the popcorn butter) is this item in the Iowa column of the November, 1911 issue of Motography: “A moving picture theater has been opened at Villisca under the management of J. M. Drury, formerly of Storm Lake.” We can’t ignore the possibility that Mr. Drury’s nameless house was the one that occupied the crude premises at 305. I’d like to think that the Temple inhabited quarters more appropriate to its name, such as a substantial Masonic or Pythian lodge building, but if none such were available we might be stuck with that used furniture emporium, as Dr. Childs might have been.