Masonic Opera House
220-224 1st Avenue E,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
220-224 1st Avenue E,
Oskaloosa,
IA
52577
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Oskaloosa’s Masonic Temple was a large three-story brick building constructed sometime before 1885. The building contained an opera house, which seems to have taken up the lower two floors, with lodge rooms occupying the third. A generous stage was at the rear, and the balcony was a large horseshoe shape. In September 1908 it began screening movies and presenting vaudeville.
The theatre operated through at least 1927, and was by far the largest space in town. The 1948 map shows a store occupying the ground floor.
This entire section of the block was destroyed many years ago, and replaced by an unattractive bank that appears to date to the 1960’s or 1970’s.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
Moving Picture World of October 3, 1908 said “Oskaloosa, Ia., has another moving picture theater. During the open season the Grand Opera House will be turned into a moving picture and vaudeville theater.”