Strand Theatre
113-115 N. Market Street,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
113-115 N. Market Street,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
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This theatre was opened on August 1, 1907 as the Orient Theatre, replacing a restaurant. This building, known as the Lacey Block, was a two story brick building constructed sometime between 1896 and 1902. The restaurant (and later theatre space) was in the southern 2/3 of the building, with the northern bay, which was not as deep, being retail space.
This theatre was renamed the Strand Theatre around 1920. The 1926 listings show it with a capacity of 412, but this was later reduced to 250. The theatre operated through 1938, but was listed as closed in 1939.
The building today is in excellent shape, and is used by an appliance sales/rental firm.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
As originally posted by Lou on the Mahaska listing: (Oskaloosa Post Herald, Thursday, August 1, 1907) WILL OPEN TONIGHT.
Orient Electric Theatre Will Give Initial Entertainment.
Oskaloosa can boast of a metropolitan electric theatre. Messrs. Tucker, Boweu and Struble have had the Commercial restaurant room converted to a theatre, and with the latest moving picture machine and films will open their new “Orient” theatre this evening to the public. A pretty lobby has been built with a nice little box office. Above the lobby is the machine room from where the pictures are thrown on the big screen to the rear of the room. The audience part of theatre is cool and roomy. At present chairs will be used, but later opera chairs will be put in place. The room will seat several hundred people.
To give their patrons the best of everything the proprietors have secured Ed Reid of Des Moines as operator of the large moving picture machine. Mr. Reid is experienced and has been connected with the Colonial Theatre at Des Moines for some time. The latest moving pictures and illustrated program will form the program at present, but if business warrants, vaudeville acts will be put on later. Several hundred dollars have been expended in establishing the theatre, and the patronage of the public is ‘deserved.