I just heard that the IOKA theatre is closing it’s doors on Christmas eve. After 93 years, is Exeter going to lose the centerpiece of local culture? After talking with owner Roger Detzler about the reality of trying to continue operating with a necessary upgrade of a sprinkler system (remember The Station nightclub in Rhode Island?), it is simply not cost effective to do so. The root of the problem is lack of local support.
While Portsmouth celebrates and generously supports it’s own Music Hall, and Rochester does the same with The Opera House, the people of Exeter blatantly ignore the historic gem right here in downtown. Will we be saying 7 years from now, boy, I sure do miss the IOKA theatre, it would have been 100 this year.
Why is there no local support? Everyone seems to care about the bandstand like it’s some great architectural marvel. Then there’s Swasey parkway and the pavilion there. Realistically, both are only usable 4 months a year, weather permitting. The IOKA is a year round venue.
I’ve seen Roger try everything to generate local interest in the IOKA, offering a huge variety of entertainment, unique films and events. Does anyone remember the pride we all felt when Exeter’s own Dan Brown held the premiere of The DaVinci Code at the IOKA? Or remember standing in line all the way around the corner to the string bridge to see Stoogefest? Or the sight of hundreds of Gothic teens descending on downtown Exeter to see the Dresden Dolls? Since the days of vaudeville, the IOKA has been part of the fabric of Exeter, the very identity of the downtown. With it’s iconic marquee and genuine Hollywood heritage, this is the cultural centerpiece of this community and it is closing next month, yet no one seems to care. For less than a million dollars, the town could purchase the historic theatre and revitalize the downtown area, and along with it, draw visitors from neighboring communities and bring customers to other downtown businesses. Other than the sprinkler system,the theatre already has had major improvements in recent years including a new sound system, new seats and a fresh coat of paint inside. Are we going to let the IOKA disappear forever or has the time come to act now and save it before it’s gone forever? The choice is yours Exeter. And time is running out.
I used to go to the Empire Theater as a kid in the 70’s. It was a small theater, maybe 150 seats. It was closed for about 20 years and re-opened in the late 70’s. It still had the original seats and the walls and ceiling were painted black. The lobby was original. Though not as opulent as other theaters built at the time, it was a great neighborhood theater that ran double features on the weekends and they did a great business.It had black letters on the facade that said EMPIRE on the top of the building and 2 theater faces, happy and sad. It was plain stucco. Like a lot of small theaters, competition from multiplexes and video rentals cut business profits and people simply stopped going there. It was located on Massabesic St near the corner of Belmont attached to 2 other buildings. It was a pie piece shaped theater, narrow at the stage and wide as you moved back. It was demolished about 10 years ago after the new owners tried to make it into a rock venue. Though located in a business area known to locals as the hollow, the city would not allow them to have live entertainment there, though across the street at the fish and game club, bands are allowed. Go figure. Another classic theater gone forever.
I just heard that the IOKA theatre is closing it’s doors on Christmas eve. After 93 years, is Exeter going to lose the centerpiece of local culture? After talking with owner Roger Detzler about the reality of trying to continue operating with a necessary upgrade of a sprinkler system (remember The Station nightclub in Rhode Island?), it is simply not cost effective to do so. The root of the problem is lack of local support.
While Portsmouth celebrates and generously supports it’s own Music Hall, and Rochester does the same with The Opera House, the people of Exeter blatantly ignore the historic gem right here in downtown. Will we be saying 7 years from now, boy, I sure do miss the IOKA theatre, it would have been 100 this year.
Why is there no local support? Everyone seems to care about the bandstand like it’s some great architectural marvel. Then there’s Swasey parkway and the pavilion there. Realistically, both are only usable 4 months a year, weather permitting. The IOKA is a year round venue.
I’ve seen Roger try everything to generate local interest in the IOKA, offering a huge variety of entertainment, unique films and events. Does anyone remember the pride we all felt when Exeter’s own Dan Brown held the premiere of The DaVinci Code at the IOKA? Or remember standing in line all the way around the corner to the string bridge to see Stoogefest? Or the sight of hundreds of Gothic teens descending on downtown Exeter to see the Dresden Dolls? Since the days of vaudeville, the IOKA has been part of the fabric of Exeter, the very identity of the downtown. With it’s iconic marquee and genuine Hollywood heritage, this is the cultural centerpiece of this community and it is closing next month, yet no one seems to care. For less than a million dollars, the town could purchase the historic theatre and revitalize the downtown area, and along with it, draw visitors from neighboring communities and bring customers to other downtown businesses. Other than the sprinkler system,the theatre already has had major improvements in recent years including a new sound system, new seats and a fresh coat of paint inside. Are we going to let the IOKA disappear forever or has the time come to act now and save it before it’s gone forever? The choice is yours Exeter. And time is running out.
Richard Gouin
I used to go to the Empire Theater as a kid in the 70’s. It was a small theater, maybe 150 seats. It was closed for about 20 years and re-opened in the late 70’s. It still had the original seats and the walls and ceiling were painted black. The lobby was original. Though not as opulent as other theaters built at the time, it was a great neighborhood theater that ran double features on the weekends and they did a great business.It had black letters on the facade that said EMPIRE on the top of the building and 2 theater faces, happy and sad. It was plain stucco. Like a lot of small theaters, competition from multiplexes and video rentals cut business profits and people simply stopped going there. It was located on Massabesic St near the corner of Belmont attached to 2 other buildings. It was a pie piece shaped theater, narrow at the stage and wide as you moved back. It was demolished about 10 years ago after the new owners tried to make it into a rock venue. Though located in a business area known to locals as the hollow, the city would not allow them to have live entertainment there, though across the street at the fish and game club, bands are allowed. Go figure. Another classic theater gone forever.