Palace Theatre
116 1st Avenue W,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
116 1st Avenue W,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
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This early theatre was operating by January 1910. It was in one of the storefronts of a two story brick block with a simple facade, built sometime before 1885. The 1902 map shows this unit as part of an early department store along with the space to the west, but this was divided again by 1910. In the summer of 1910 it was rebuilt.
This was one of many early theatres competing for moviegoers, and does not seem to have been a success. The 1917 map shows a plumber here. Notably, this section now has a wooden awning, which may have been a remnant of the theatre.
This building survived to 1985, when photos from the NRHP listing for downtown show this as a loan office, with the awning still in place. This section of the block was wiped out, along with 10-12 blocks of downtown, to create a dismal little mall surrounded by an asphalt wasteland.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Palace is the only Oskaloosa house we have listed on First Avenue West, so I’ll put this item from the July 4, 1908 issue of Moving Picture World here: “Oskaloosa, Ia.— E. T. McCormick and Herbert Hanna have leased the Mateer building on First avenue west and will open up a moving picture show.”
Thanks, Joe! The date makes sense as well.
Whether the Palace opened in 1908 or not, it underwent rebuilding in 1911, according to the June issue of Motography that year: “The new Palace theater of Oskaloosa which has been in the hands of the carpenters and decorators for some time, has again opened its doors to the public. The theater has been rebuilt at much expense. All the material used has been the very best. The front of the theater is illuminated by nearly 300 electric lights. The house is ventilated by two rear exits and eight large fans and is always cool. Newell Bros. are the owners and operators.”