Fleur Cinema & Café
4545 Fleur Drive,
Des Moines,
IA
50321
4545 Fleur Drive,
Des Moines,
IA
50321
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Now reopened.
Reopened by Fridley Theatres on September 8th, 2023
“The Fleur Cinema & Café and Fridley Theatres Announce Plans to Reopen Des Moines, IA (July 14th , 2023) – The Fleur Cinema & Café and Fridley Theatres have signed an agreement to reopen the iconic southside movie theatre. “We are excited to operate and partner with The Fleur in its reopening. Our goal is to have the facility open prior to October 1st,” said Russell Vannorsdel, President of Fridley Theatres.
Fridley Theatres operates 17 locations and 95 screens across the state of Iowa. Robert “Bob” Fridley, its founder, had long been a presence in the Des Moines movie landscape, owning several theatres in the metro. “We love The Fleur’s history and atmosphere,” said Vannorsdel, “and we look forward to honoring its legacy and rich tradition of moviegoing.”
The Fleur Cinema & Café was opened and founded by Michael Coppola in 2001, who also previously operated the cinema. It has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. “I cannot think of a better company to be the steward of this theatre into the future,” said Coppola. “I knew Bob Fridley, and he was one of the kindest men I’ve ever met. A true gentleman who loved the movies and embodied the business.”
The Fleur Cinema & Café will reopen in time for the fall Oscar season, when it will showcase various Academy Award contenders. It will continue to provide the highest quality pictures, exceptional service, and unmatched experience that has made it a staple in the Des Moines area for nearly two decades."
“The Rocketeer” was presented at the Fleur 4 (Auditorium #4?) beginning on the film’s nationwide release date, Friday June 21, 1991.
Fleur Cinema remains closed.
Fleur Cinema remains closed 02 Jan 2022, Sun The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) Newspapers.com
Here’s a new 4-page 50th anniversary FIDDLER ON THE ROOF retrospective featuring a roadshow playdate chronology and historian Q&A. The Fleur’s lengthy run is mentioned in the piece.
October 26th, 2001 grand reopening ad in photo section.
the opening may have to be double-checked. An article in the Des Moines Register on Oct. 26, 2001 says “opening today”
December 14th, 2001 grand opening ad in photo section.
November 25th, 1970 grand opening ad has been uploaded here in the photo section.
Poor JV: it was actually Essaness. (I think I remembering reading somewhere that this was a name created by phonetically rendering “S & S” – the first letters of the original owners' last names).
A recent story, with video, about this cinema: http://www.kcci.com/r/24606787/detail.html
That should read “Esseness” rather than Essanass. My mind has been wandering into Beavis and Butthead territory again.
The Fleur Four Theatre was actually opened in 1970, and was originally operated by Dubinsky Brothers Theatres. The November 2, 1970, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that Irwin Dubinsky had spent the day of October 26 checking on the progress of the Fleur Four, and that the planned opening date was November 18. The new four-plex would have 1,250 seats.
The Dubinsky circuit, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, grew rapidly in the 1970s. They apparently operated the Fleur Four until the company was bought out by Chicago-based Excellence Theatres (formerly Essanass Theatres) in 1989. At the time of the sale, Dubinsky operated 127 screens. Carmike Cinemas took over management of Excellence Theatres in 1992.
Zip code is 50321 for what it’s worth.
The Fleur 4 Theatre was open at least as early as the spring of 1974 as I remember seeing Disney’s “Superdad” there then.