Spencer 3 Theater

504 Grand Avenue,
Spencer, IA 51301

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fridley Theatres, Pioneer Theater Corp.

Architects: Jack J. Liebenberg

Firms: Liebenberg and Kaplan

Functions: Gymnasium

Previous Names: New Spencer Theatre, Spencer Theater

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News About This Theater

Spencer Theater

Open as the New Spencer Theatre on September 3, 1931 with Walter Huston in “The Star Witness”. By 1943 it was the Spencer Theatre and was operated by the Pioneer Theater Corp. by 1950.

The Spencer 3 Theater was operated by Fridley Theaters. This theater had three screens and gives free popcorn every Tuesday.

The Spencer 3 Theater was closed on August 4, 2010.

Contributed by Lost Memory

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois
Ret. AKC (NAC) CCC Bob Jensen, Manteno, Illinois on July 27, 2010 at 10:35 am

I HOPE SOMEONE CAN TAKE PHOTOS INSIDE AND OUT BEFORE THE THEATER CLOSES!

Anyone have more info or old photos?

Early 1930’s opened by Finkelstein Theaters?

Late 1930’s taken over by Pioneer Theater?

Late 1960’s sold?

Early 1979’s taken over by Fridley Theaters?

Early 1980’s expanded to 3 screens?

I THINK the theater was expanded into the former Walgreen Drug Store right next door. The entrance to the theater is in a sorta “modern” building which could be the drug store. If you click on the map, go to the satellite and go to the street photo, you see 2 older buildings on either side of the entrance either one (especially the one to the right) could be a theater. That’s the best I can do from Manteno Illinois, can you add anything?

August 1,2010 last paid for admission movies:

GROWN UPS

TOY STORY 3 IN 2D

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE

August 3 & 4, 2010, Free Summer Mechant Movie:

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID

“THE END”

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 16, 2010 at 9:42 am

The Spencer theatre with the local Chamber of Commerce would sponsor Kid Shows on saturdays,like so many theatres would in that time.They Played the Disney movie “CASTAWAYS” Jan 1962 and raised Children ticket prices to fifty cents!Good Old Disney.Never give a parent a break.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on December 16, 2010 at 9:52 am

“HOPE SOMEONE CAN TAKE PHOTOS INSIDE AND OUT BEFORE THE THEATER CLOSES!”

Seriously — does nobody realize there’s a website that devotes itself to photographing as many theatres as possible as in depth as possible?

http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/1281.html

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on December 16, 2010 at 10:11 am

Iagree Scott when ever i can, I get photos. I do.Hope someone up there will read your post.

packer
packer on January 18, 2012 at 9:11 pm

The theatre is for sale. For only $59,900 you too can own a movie theatre. I was through this town yesterday for work and came across this theatre. Good to see some postings about it. The building on the right is sold. I didnt even notice that it was part of the theatre at some point. Here is the link to the listing: http://www.spencerhomes.biz/houses/500_2/photos.htm

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on August 12, 2014 at 10:20 am

Now a fitness center.

50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on October 21, 2023 at 7:12 pm

Opened on September 3, 1931 with Walter Huston with “The Star Witness” along with the Wheeler & Woolsey short “Oh, Oh, Cleopatra”.

SethG
SethG on November 27, 2023 at 10:56 am

Most of the pictures are wrong, including the main one. They show the Fraser, which is somewhere else. It’s very obvious from looking at the neighboring buildings.

SethG
SethG on November 28, 2023 at 10:15 am

The original facade, before the nasty remodel, was that of the old Solon. Although most of this block was destroyed by the fire in June 1931, there was enough of the Solon left that the Spencer was one of the first buildings completed. When I passed through in Nov. 2009, there was also an entrance lobby in the Moore building to the south. I assume the other two screens were there.

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