Comments from Joe Vogel

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Seneca Twin Theatre on Feb 4, 2025 at 2:45 am

The remodeling of the Royal Theatre at Seneca was noted in the December 9, 1950 issue of Boxoffice. A new screen, flooring, air conditioning and seating were among the improvements. The new name was not mentioned, but the item said that “[a] new front will be built on the house after the completion of other work.” The renaming was likely done then.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Opera House on Feb 4, 2025 at 2:19 am

The only mention of the Olin Opera House I’ve been able to find in any theater industry trade journal is from the November 14, 1925 issue of Motion Picture News, which said that the Des Moines office of the Exhibitors Supply Company had reported the sale of “…two machines to Mr. Lawson of the Olin Opera House at Olin, Iowa….”

However, much later another theatre name is connected with Olin, appearing in the July 2, 1949 issue of Boxoffice, which said that exhibitor L. L. Leibrock, owner of the Plaza Theatre at Olin had been named County Engineer. He planned to continue operating the theater, which he had owned for about ten years. The Plaza is mentioned again in the December 30, 1950 Boxoffice, which said the house had celebrated its 11th anniversary on Thanksgiving Day (November 23 that year.) I’ve been unable to discover if the Plaza was the same theater as the Opera House.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Air Dome on Feb 4, 2025 at 1:08 am

Here is an excerpt from the reminiscences of early Anamosa resident Warren J. Rees, published in 1988, describing Main Street in 1915: “On the southwest comer of the intersection of Main and Garnavillo was Bert Cotton’s fixit shop. He reupholstered furniture, framed pictures, and did all sorts of small repair Jobs. Next door on the west was a dwelling occupied by the Scroggs family. Proceeding west we found the office of the Anamosa Gas Co., then the Airdrome, a movie theater, which operated only in the summer, as it was open to the air — no roof. Candy Bill Leach ran a second-hand store in the building now serving Dr. Sunlin as a chiropractor’s office.”

As no Airdome is listed at Anamosa in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory the theater probably opened after the directory went to press (which might have been late 1914,) unless the Airdome was the mystery house the directory lists as the Family Theatre.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Crystal Theatre on Jan 28, 2025 at 7:03 pm

The description of the location of Anamosa’s Princess Theatre as of 1915 is on page 128 (scan page n141) of the book Anamosa - A Reminiscence. It is among the recollections of early resident Warren J. Rees (scan at Internet Archive.) The description of the Crystal’s location follows a couple of paragraphs later. It might be that the name Family Theatre was simply an error by the AMPD, or the name might have been used very briefly by a short-term operator of the Crystal.

Incidentally, page 10 (digital scan page n23) of the Reminiscence book features an undated early photo of E. C. Holt’s Building. What might be movie posters are on display in the windows of the storefront the Crystal occupied.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Jones County Cinema on Jan 28, 2025 at 5:11 am

Theater industry trade journals from the early 1920s have frequent mentions of a house called the Grand Theatre at Anamosa. The 1926 FDY lists the 200-seat Crystal and the 500-seat Grand at Anamosa.

The February 19, 1916 issue of Moving Picture World mentioned Anamosa and Clifford Niles: “Anamosa, Ia.—The opera house recently leased by Clifford Niles, is now being operated as a first-class moving picture and vaudeville theater.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Crystal Theatre on Jan 28, 2025 at 4:35 am

Something is wrong here. Is the address a typo? The building now at 221 W. Main does not resemble the written description, but looks fairly modern and is currently occupied by a restaurant called Larry’s Place. A building that does resemble the description is at 211 W. Main, occupied by a real estate office. Life Connections Mental Health Services is located in the same building, but with the address 209 W. Main. But the book I cited in my earlier comment indicates that the Crystal was in the second storefront east of Garnavillo Street, which would indeed be modern 221 W. Main. If that’s the case then this theater’s building has either been demolished or altered beyond all recognition.

The Princess Theatre’s building is still standing at 103 E. Main Street, occupied by an event center called the Revival Lounge.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Circle Theatre on Jan 28, 2025 at 3:58 am

The Circle Theatre is mentioned in a locally published (in 1988) book called “Anamosa - A Reminiscence”: “In the late 1930s, Mr. Niles opened another smaller theater in Anamosa, in addition to the Niles Theater. It was on the north side of Main street in the block between Ford and Gamavillo streets. This was called the Circle Theater and much smaller and less elaborate than the parent theater.” A later paragraph in the same book notes that in 1939, a John Watters was manager of the Circle.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Crystal Theatre on Jan 28, 2025 at 3:58 am

A Crystal Theatre was in operation at Anamosa as early as 1916, when an item datelined Anamosa in the May 20 issue of Moving Picture World said that “E. J. Kratoska now controls the Crystal theater and Airdome, having purchased the interests of George & Polten.” If only this theater and the Opera House were on the 1917 map, then this had to have been the Crystal, whatever its earlier name had been. In fact, a book called “Anamosa - A Reminiscence” which confirms that this was the location of the Crystal also reveals that, as of 1915, the Princess Theatre was in the block to the east, on the south side of Main street in the second storefront east of Ford Street. Although the name Family Theatre is not mentioned in the book, by process of elimination that must have been the earlier name of the Crystal.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Vinton Palace Theatre on Jan 26, 2025 at 1:31 pm

The February 3, 1917 issue of Motion Picture News featured an article about the Palace Theatre of Vinton, Iowa, which included the following information:

:“THE Palace theatre of Vinton, Iowa, one of the many motion picture houses owned and operated by the Palace Theatre Company, is under the management of Mr. Arthur G. Stotle who is one of the ‘Live Wire Exhibitors’ of Iowa.

“The theatre was designed by W. F. Brown, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was completed and opened during the year of 1915, and is probably one of the most modern and best equipped theatres in that section of the country.

“The theatre is constructed of brick, concrete and steel, measuring 66 feet in width and 150 feet in depth including stage.”

The entire article can be read at this Internet Archive link. There is a small photo of the front of the house.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Montgomery Theater on Jan 11, 2025 at 11:31 am

The Poinciana Theatre at Tampa was mentioned in the July 6, 1912 issue of Moving Picture World. An ebay listing of a picture postcard of this house styling it the Montgomery Theater and postmarked 1913 has a description from the seller (Mitten State Treasures) saying: “Rare image of a theater that only existed from 1911-1916. It was called the Poincaina Theatre when it opened on the corner of Florida Avenue and Cass Street.” The seller does not cite a source for the dates claim, but it could be accurate (despite the misspelling of Poinciana.) There is no Montgomery Theatre listed at Tampa in the 1926 FDY.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Phoenix Theatre on Jan 11, 2025 at 10:29 am

The 1905-1906 Polk’s Iowa Directory lists the Phoenix Opera House at Conrad, and it’s also listed in the 1908-1909 and the 1912-1913 directories. It’s possible that this building housed a theater from the time of its construction, whenever that was. I’ve been unable to find the house in any of the Cahn guides, but the Phoenix Theatre is the only house listed at Conrad in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Times Theatre on Jan 1, 2025 at 1:33 pm

The July 13, 1935 Motion Picture Herald reported that the Mort Singer Theatres Corporation had taken over the Family and Strand theaters at Marshalltown.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Strand Theater on Jan 1, 2025 at 1:29 pm

Here’s an item from the July 13, 1935 Motion Picture Herald: “Mort Singer Theatres Corporation, operating 10 houses in the Middlewest and West, has taken over two houses in Marshalltown, Iowa, the Family and Strand.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Wieting Theatre on Dec 31, 2024 at 2:48 pm

In its issue of March 1, 1961, trade journal Motion Picture Exhibitor said “After operating four months the Weiting, Toledo, Iowa, the Toledo Community Theatre Guild issued a report showing a profit” Little more than a year later, the July 2, 1962 issue of Boxoffice cited a mention of the house in an even more prestigious publication:

“Toledo, Iowa, Citizens Proud of Journal Quote

“Toledo, Iowa— Mason City isn’t the only place in Iowa firmly established on the theatre map. Toledo (pop. 2,850) is crowing about the recent Wall Street Journal page one story on the revival of motion picture theatres throughout the country.

“The Wieting, a community-run theatre here, is operating after a three-year closing. Mrs. Willard Beadle, head of the Toledo organization which operated the Wieting, was quoted in the lead as saying that ‘Unless you have lived in a small town like this, you cannot imagine what a spark of life is breathed into a community when its theatre comes to life again.’”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Bijou Theatre on Dec 31, 2024 at 2:40 pm

If this house did become the Cozy, it had gotten that name by early 1922, when it was mentioned in the January 7 issue of Moving Picture World.

However, another theater name which might be another aka for this house or a different theater has surfaced. An item datelined Toledo, Ia, in the December 22, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World said that “Grand theater, formerly operated by W. B. Persons, has been taken over by J. J. Fomey.” The Grand is also mentioned in the October 14, 1916 issue of Motography.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Ohio Theatre on Dec 28, 2024 at 4:16 pm

The VFW post now at this theater’s address occupies a modern building, so I’m sure we can mark the Franklin Cinema as demolished.

The first appearance of an Ohio Theatre at Franklin in the FDY is in the 1934 edition, though it has only 300 seats. It was still listed with 300 seats in the 1945 edition. I haven’t checked later editions to see when (or if) it was expanded.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about State Theatre on Dec 22, 2024 at 2:47 pm

Then the 1925 FDY listed Iowa’s Chariton under Illinois. Their Iowa listings go from Cedar Rapids to Charles City to Centerville to Clarinda.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Lincoln Theatre on Dec 21, 2024 at 7:31 am

I haven’t found anything saying the Grand and Temple were originally in the same building, but there’s nothing saying they weren’t either. I had the impression they were simply rivals that merged, consolidating their business in the better theater’s location.

It might be that the Grand was at 108 Grand, shut down around November, 1917 (perhaps losing a lease) and Mr. Combs' Iris opened in the Grand’s location about the time the Grand’s owners merged their operation with the Temple’s. The news of the merger and of the opening of Mr. Combs' house appeared in the same issue of MPW, December 1, 1917.

As the earliest mention of the Strand I’ve seen is from 1925, there was plenty of time for the Iris to come and go at that location without leaving a ripple. The absence of the Grand from the 1914 directory doesn’t seem a major problem, either. The place might have opened, closed and then reopened more than once during that time. Early theaters often had very short life spans. Plus the directory might simply have missed it.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about State Theatre on Dec 21, 2024 at 6:05 am

If you’re referring to the listings in the 1925 FDY, you’ve misread it. Chariton, Iowa isn’t listed, but Chariton, Illinois had nine theaters. Had the Iowa Chariton been listed it would have been on the same page as the one in Illinois, but the whole state of Indiana is also on that page. The listings were quite perfunctory that year.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about State Theatre on Dec 19, 2024 at 7:04 am

A Grand Theatre at Chariton is mentioned in the December 1, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World: “Chariton, Ia.—The Grand and Temple theaters are to be consolidated and will be renamed the Lincoln theater. Mrs. Victorin Dewey and Becker and Bowen will have the joint ownership of the theater.”

That is the only mention of the Grand I’ve found in the trade journals. It was not listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, which lists only the Temple at Chariton.

The same issue of MPW has an item datelined Chariton saying that “D. Earl Combs has opened his new theater to the public.” A December 22 item says that Mr. Combs' new house was called the Iris. I’ve found no other mentions of the Iris, or of Mr. Combs.

I’ve found the Strand mentioned in two items in Moving Picture World of September 5, 1925. The first says that “W. H. Dewey has sold his interest in the Lincoln and Strand Theatres at Chariton to his partner, E. P. Smith, and will enter other lines of business.” The second says that “E. P. Smith of Chariton, Ia., has sold the Strand and Lincoln Theatres at that place to S. H. Edmiston.”

The November 14, 1927 Film Daily also mentions the Strand: “Chariton, Ia.—The Strand has discontinued pictures temporarily to play stock.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Lincoln Theatre on Dec 19, 2024 at 6:25 am

The July 3, 1909 issue of The Show World said that vaudevillian Lee J. Kellam would be performing at the Temple Theatre in Chariton, Iowa July 5-10.

The December 1, 1917 issue of Moving Picture World had this item: “Chariton, Ia.—The Grand and Temple theaters are to be consolidated and will be renamed the Lincoln theater. Mrs. Victorin Dewey and Becker and Bowen will have the joint ownership of the theater.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Rodeo Theatre on Dec 17, 2024 at 8:57 pm

The July 27, 1929 issue of Motion Picture News had this item that had to have been about this theater:

“The new theatre now under construction at Hartselle, Ala., is rapidly nearing completion and Manager Ray N. Howell has purchased talking equipment, sound-on-disc, from Jack Marshall, of the North Birmingham Theatre, who is marketing his own invention. The Hartselle house, which will seat 500, will be of fireproof brick and cement and will be outfitted with the most up-to-date equipment. It is understood that Mr. Howell has not yet determined whether he will continue to operate the present Scenic Theatre or will close and dismantle it after the new house is opened.”
The FDYs give a clue to what might have happened next in Hartselle. Ray Howell’s 300-seat Scenic Theatre is listed in the 1929 edition, but the only house listed in 1930 is a 300-seat Alma Theatre. In 1931, the 435-seat Pearl Vaughn theatre appears, along with the Alma. It appears that Mr. Howell failed to get his new house open, but Dr. William Booth got control of it and opened it as the Pearl Vaughn Theatre sometime in 1930. Meantime, Howell’s old Scenic remained in operation with the new name Alma Theatre. In 1932, the new theater returned to the control of the Howell family, as the house was renamed Strand Theatre on August 20 that year, and the January 14, 1933 issue of Universal Weekly says that an Adam P. Howell was manager of the Strand in Hartselle. The 1933 FDY lists the Strand, with 472 seats, but the Alma is no longer listed.

The second go-round of the name Rodeo for the house began in 1959, according to this item from the May 27 issue of Motion Picture Exhibitor that year: “Hank Farris has changed the name of his house in Hartselle, Ala., from the Strand to the Rodeo.”

Incidentally, the Scenic Theatre was the sole listing at Hartselle in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Barron Theatre on Dec 16, 2024 at 4:11 pm

The Barron Theatre’s web site can be found at this link. The youth ministry which owns and operates the house converted the former balcony theater to what they call a teen room, and installed digital projection in the main floor theater, which shows a single feature three days a week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is five dollars.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about State Theater on Dec 16, 2024 at 3:40 pm

The State Theatre opened on May 29, 1929. Commonwealth Theatres took over operation in 1936 and still controlled the house at least as late as 1967 when the theater underwent a three-month remodeling, reopening with “El Dorado” on July 20. In December, the State Theatre hosted the premier of the movie “In Cold Blood” which had been partly filmed locally in Finney County, where the murders depicted in the film had taken place.

The last owners of the house were Dickinson Theatres, who took over in 1997 and closed the doors in January, 1999. In November that year the building was given to the municipality with the proviso that it not be used to show first run movies. An attempt to renovate and reopen the State as a theater was abandoned in 2003 when adequate funding could not be acquired. A later attempt at a less ambitions renovation also fell short. Proposals for some sort of public reuse of the building have been made as recently as 2023, but have come to nothing. I’ve been unable to discover the current status of the building, other than that is apparently still owned by the City of Garden City.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel commented about Lee Theater on Dec 13, 2024 at 8:15 pm

Boxoffice of August 25, 1951 said that Columbia Basin Theatres had opened their Lee Theatre at Ephrata and would open their new Lake theatre at Moses Lake later.