SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Oct 29, 2024 at 10:08 am
There was also an opera house in a big three story Odd Fellows Hall on the corner of E Main and S Illinois. Only a tiny portion, one story tall, remains today. That could have been the Grand?
I think the Star might need its own listing. The 1919 map shows it as a very narrow one story building. It appears that it was on the north side of the site, and a 2-story pool room was on the south half. I expect both were demolished to allow the construction of the larger theater.
But you’re still confident that it was earlier the Bijou and likely the Star? This theater could definitely have been open up until the Earle killed it off, so it may also have been the Strand.
That does seem to be an awful lot of names for one place, especially when the Royal and Earle each had only one name change, and the Opera House may not have had any, unless one of these names was a later name for that.
That’s probably from about the first year they could have been showing movies, right? Sounds like they maybe had it set up on the floor or balcony, rather than in a booth.
The building on the left is the old Carroll Opera House, which showed movies from at least 1914-15 until it closed, likely in the late ‘20s after this opened.
This was located in a large commercial building constructed sometime between 1888 and 1893. The 1909 map shows a general store here. This entire block was destroyed in the demented urban renewal craze, and replaced by some incredibly depressing one story structures.
The ugly ‘new’ Carroll is not across the street, but at the other end of the block.
The address is wrong. This was at 104-106. That block no longer exists due to the destruction of urban ‘renewal’. It would have been under the eastern half of the appallingly ugly Bill Farmer Building.
It appears that the structure was a remodel of an armory constructed between 1909 and 1915, which was used as a store by 1923.
It certainly could be the same building. I think the facade is new. I’m not even sure it’s possible to plaster over metal. Sometimes local knowledge is spot-on, sometimes it’s bunk. It would make sense that they moved it, although the appearance of the building on the 1913 map is different.
The picture used is so terrible and low resolution that it should be deleted and replaced by something else. The old version of the 1935 photo should be junked for the same reason.
There may have been 4, but the dates are not right. The Germania appears on the first map of Denison, from 1886. It remains up through the 1908 map. The second location appears on the 1913 map. It’s possible there were only three. The second one definitely showed movies, and I’ll add it.
The address must be wrong. The building at this location is a small store from the late ‘30s or early '40s. There is no room for such a large theater on this block. It may have been north of the post office.
Someone needs to create listings for the other two Orpheums, and the photos belonging to those should be moved there. Any reference to them in this listing should be removed. I do not think this was ever called the ‘Sioux City Orpheum’ before it was restored.
The address is wrong. This was at 715. The building has been butchered, but you can still see the distinctive stone squares on the front. It appears to have been vacant since at least 2012.
There was also an opera house in a big three story Odd Fellows Hall on the corner of E Main and S Illinois. Only a tiny portion, one story tall, remains today. That could have been the Grand?
I think the Star might need its own listing. The 1919 map shows it as a very narrow one story building. It appears that it was on the north side of the site, and a 2-story pool room was on the south half. I expect both were demolished to allow the construction of the larger theater.
But you’re still confident that it was earlier the Bijou and likely the Star? This theater could definitely have been open up until the Earle killed it off, so it may also have been the Strand.
That does seem to be an awful lot of names for one place, especially when the Royal and Earle each had only one name change, and the Opera House may not have had any, unless one of these names was a later name for that.
That’s probably from about the first year they could have been showing movies, right? Sounds like they maybe had it set up on the floor or balcony, rather than in a booth.
The building on the left is the old Carroll Opera House, which showed movies from at least 1914-15 until it closed, likely in the late ‘20s after this opened.
Chuck strikes again.
Thanks for the ID, and for confirming the Opera House, I’ll add that.
Better website: https://www.fridleytheatres.com/movie-theater/carroll-carroll5/
This was located in a large commercial building constructed sometime between 1888 and 1893. The 1909 map shows a general store here. This entire block was destroyed in the demented urban renewal craze, and replaced by some incredibly depressing one story structures.
The ugly ‘new’ Carroll is not across the street, but at the other end of the block.
The address is wrong. This was at 104-106. That block no longer exists due to the destruction of urban ‘renewal’. It would have been under the eastern half of the appallingly ugly Bill Farmer Building.
It appears that the structure was a remodel of an armory constructed between 1909 and 1915, which was used as a store by 1923.
By the way, if you can find a movie date at the Germania from 1908 or before, I will create a listing for the first location.
It certainly could be the same building. I think the facade is new. I’m not even sure it’s possible to plaster over metal. Sometimes local knowledge is spot-on, sometimes it’s bunk. It would make sense that they moved it, although the appearance of the building on the 1913 map is different.
I’m having the same problem with the Cahn Guide, although this town is so tiny it almost certainly wouldn’t be listed anyway.
This is an absolutely awful and useless listing.
Thanks. I felt pretty certain this was the Majestic. Less certain that it later became the Royal.
Thanks for the ID! It’s odd that the ‘new’ Germania wasn’t listed, since that opened in 1914.
Thanks to Ken Roe for some dates on this one!
Note that the historical address was 124 E Broadway, near the corner with N Sweet. The streets were later renamed to the most boring system possible.
Note that the historical address was 112-114 E Tremont, before the streets were renamed to a boring numbered grid.
The picture used is so terrible and low resolution that it should be deleted and replaced by something else. The old version of the 1935 photo should be junked for the same reason.
There may have been 4, but the dates are not right. The Germania appears on the first map of Denison, from 1886. It remains up through the 1908 map. The second location appears on the 1913 map. It’s possible there were only three. The second one definitely showed movies, and I’ll add it.
The address must be wrong. The building at this location is a small store from the late ‘30s or early '40s. There is no room for such a large theater on this block. It may have been north of the post office.
Someone needs to create listings for the other two Orpheums, and the photos belonging to those should be moved there. Any reference to them in this listing should be removed. I do not think this was ever called the ‘Sioux City Orpheum’ before it was restored.
The address is wrong. This was at 715. The building has been butchered, but you can still see the distinctive stone squares on the front. It appears to have been vacant since at least 2012.
The theater was on the left side.