Carroll Theatre
104-106 E. 5th Street,
Carroll,
IA
51401
104-106 E. 5th Street,
Carroll,
IA
51401
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fridley Theatres, Pioneer Theater Corp.
Firms: John Latenser & Sons
Styles: Atmospheric, Italian Renaissance
Previous Names: Earle Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Earle Theatre was opened October 11, 1927. It had 800 seats in an Italian Atmospheric style auditorium, designed by architectural firm John Latenser & Sons. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer theatre organ. In 1930 it was taken over by Pioneer Theatres. The Earle Theatre was extensively remodelled in 1942, but was badly damaged by a fire in October 1945.
Repairs and renovations were carried out by Pioneer Theatres and it reopened as the Carroll Theatre on May 7, 1946 with Cornel Wilde in “The Bandit of Sherwood Forest”. It seated 598. Operations was taken over by Fridley Theatres in the early-1970’s and it was closed on May 28, 1973 with James Caan in “Slither”. It was demolished in 1974.
Contributed by
Chuck
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
Right. The twin opened in 1974 and expanded to five screens in 1998.
New Carroll, ‘Theatre Of Tomorrow’, Opens Here Tuesday, May 7, 1946
First Post-War Showhouse Has Latest Improvements
Modern Design, Safety Features Combine With Beauty in New Theatre
Plans for the grand opening of the new Carroll theatre tomorrow
night were complete today, Bill Arts, manager, announced.
Painters, carpenters and decorators were busy this afternoon putting on the finishing touches that will make the new amusement palace the “theatre of tomorrow”.
The new showhouse, replacing the Earle theatre which was destroyed by fire last October, is the first post-war theatre to be built in Iowa and has all the latest improvements, Manager Arts declared.
Described by its owners, Harold Field and the Pioneer Theatre corporation as “the theatre of tomorrow”, the motion picture house will provide every convenience for the comfort and entertainment of patrons.
The floor of the lobby and lounge are of soft-colored terrazo. Satin-finished chrome display frames grace the lobby. The ticket office is of bent glass. Entrance doors shine with full-view glass and stainless steel.
Tile-trimmed rest rooms have been installed. The ladies' room features a pink finish and the men’s, beige.
One of the outstanding safety features of this new theatre is a floor of solid, reinforced concrete.
The front construction is of brick and St. Cloud granite. Lobby and foyer walls are of tile and the stairs to the lounge and rest rooms are of concrete covered with carpet. As an added safety feature, the carpeting is recessed into the concrete floor to eliminate danger of stumbling.
The Carroll brings to this city the first theatre in this area featuring the new style bowl-shaped concrete floor. Beginning at the stage, it rises in pitch to the sldewalls and rear of the auditorium affording better vision for patrons.
Another of the many new features will be a new USAirCo mechanical refrigeration system unit which purifies the air and eliminates all
drafts. Separate units are used for the lobby, foyer, lounge and rest
rooms and air the auditorium.
* • *
Installed behind the screen is the new “Voice of the Theatre” sound speakers, said to be 200 per cent better than the old system. The stage is enhanced by full length gray satin drapes.
The Heart of the handsome new amusement place is the modern projection booth which houses two big Motiograph projectors and Strong projection arc lamps. Other new post-war features are the two Super-Lite lenses which give a third-dimensional effect on the screen. They have the effect of bringing the performers and backgrounds “almost to your fingertips”.
VETS STAFF THEATRE … Four veterans of World War II will form the staff of the new Carroll theatre when it opens here tomorrow. Pictured above are Manager Bill Arts, Assistant Manager Delbert Farrell, Projectionist Melvin Kinkaid, and Doorman Milo Baak. All of these men were associated with Pioneer theatres before they went into the services.
State Theatre Goes Back to Old Policy
With the opening of the new Carroll theatre, the State theatre will go back to its previous policy on theatre bookings, Manager Bill Arts announced today. Pictures will show Sundays through Wednesdays, and Wednesdays through Saturdays. Double features will be shown at the State with a Western picture on the week-end bookings. Admission prices at the State will be returned to 10 cents and 25 cents, as before.
Movie Folk Hail Carroll’s New Theatre
“From one Iowan to another, here’s luck to the new Carroll theatre”,
said a telegram from Donna Reed, popular film beauty and former native of Crawford county, to Bill Arts, manager of the new Carroll theatre.
Arts received the telegram this week along with wires of congratulations on the new theatre from such famous film favorites as Clark Gable, Wallace Beery, Margaret O'Brien, Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney and Greer Garson.
In addition to those film stars who took note of the event by wiring
Manager Arts, several movie notables sent congratulatory telegrams
to Harold Field, president. Film stars who wired Mr. Field are Veronica Lake, Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland, Paulette Goddard, Alan Ladd, Betty Hutton, Bing Crosby, and “Bob (Regards) Hope.”
A Statement From The Theatre Management
The building of the New Carroll theatre, with many deluxe features, was a new departure from the usual, pre-war theatre. The past years have shown the management that the public wanted this type of theatre, and plans were made for an ultra-modern theatre. Months
of careful study of all the newest type theatres, together with the experience gained in operating theatres, furnished a wealth of knowledge of what to include and how to design the New Carroll.
Harold D. Field, Pioneer showman, said, “It is with a sense of sincerity and genuine appreciation that our organization presents to Carroll the new Carroll theatre — the Theatre of Tomorrow".
“We dedicate it to you and with the sincere wish that you and your loved ones shall come to know it as your haven of entertainment, recreation and education.
"With all our abilities we have endeavored to make this a safe, comfortable and pleasing edifice. We shall be most happy if this offering meets with your full approval."
W. C. ARTS, Mgr.
To Reveal Winners Of Essay Contest
Winners of the essay contest – “What A Theatre Means to A Community” â€" will be announced on the stage of the new Carroll theatre tomorrow night during opening ceremonies.
The contest was open to all students in the county and many took part, Manager Arts said. Prizes will be a $100 war bond, six months
pass to both the Carroll and State theatres, and $10.
The winners will be presented on the stage when they are announced and prizes distributed.
Grand opening ad posted here.
The predecessor to the Carroll was the Earle Theatre. The 800-seat Earle Theatre opened in 1927 architected by John Latenser & Sons and owned by Earl N. Neu. Latenser’s Italian athmospheric theater with Cornthian columns melded in Lombardy poplar trees and two Pompeiian fountains along with Chris Fuchs’ murals set the tone. The 800-pipe Mighty Wurlitzer Pipe Organ made the Earle appear as if it were in a metropolitan area. Pioneer Theatre Circuit bought the Earle in 1930.
It was extensively remodeled in 1942 with a grand re-opening under Pioneer. After a damaging fire in 1945, it was remodeled and became the Carroll Theatre on May 7, 1946. Pioneer was bought out by Carroll Theater Inc. in 1963. Carroll Theatre purchased by Fridley Theaters Circuit in July 1970. In 1975, Fridley theater twinned the Carroll but it could show 70mm film. The theater had a long run but was fairly unrecognizable from any of its first three iterations due to modernizing.
Opened 11 October 1927.
1967 photo added courtesy of Ian Whitaker Granstra.
Closed on May 28, 1973 with “Slither”.
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.
Not only is the address wrong, but this theater was not a twin. Carroll’s urban renewal project was already under way when Fridley bought this single-screener in 1970, and Fridley would not have wasted money twinning a theater they knew they would have to replace in a few years.
Chuck strikes again.