Cresco Theatre & Opera House
115 2nd Avenue West,
Cresco,
IA
52136
115 2nd Avenue West,
Cresco,
IA
52136
1 person
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Capacity must have been a lot larger, but the balcony is probably closed.
Saw a movie here in 2009, and about the only other people there were a boy scout troop who got a tour after the film. I tagged along. The auditorium is amazing, and was mostly original, with the seats maybe from the ‘40s or '50s. Lots of ornate plaster, and little light bulbs set into the front of the balcony.
Multiple items in construction journals in 1914 indicate that the Cresco Opera House was designed and built by a St. Paul firm called Monarch Theater Construction & Supply Co.
So far I’ve been able to find three other theater projects involving the same firm, all from 1914. One was the Auditorium Theatre in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The others were in Montevideo and Willmar, Minnesota. I’ve been unable to establish the identity of either so far, though the Montevideo house was probably called the Star.
Here is the registry information:
Cresco Opera House (added 1981 – Building – #81000245)
Also known as Cresco Theater
115 W. 2nd Ave., Cresco
Historic Significance: Event
Area of Significance: Social History
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Gov’t
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater