Ioka Theater
55 Water Street,
Exeter,
NH
03833
55 Water Street,
Exeter,
NH
03833
8 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Ioka Theater (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: MGM Theatres
Styles: Art Deco, Neo-Vintage
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Apr 3, 2012 — Ioka exceeds 1,000 members
- Mar 4, 2012 — Ioka's supporters rally around theater
- May 20, 2009 — BFA Thesis Film hopes to preserve the historic Ioka Theater on Film
- Dec 1, 2008 — Historic Ioka Theater to close Christmas Eve
- Jan 19, 2006 — Ioka Theatre For Sale (Again)
- Jan 28, 2004 — Today's Newsreel
- Jan 16, 2004 — Today's Newsreel
- Oct 21, 2003 — Ioka Sale Falls Through, Future Uncertain
Built in 1915, the Ioka Theatre is one of the dwindling number of independent movie theaters in the country.
Featuring a main auditorium of almost 500 seats, it offers the largest screen in the area with an updated state-of-art sound system. Architecturally, it is a brick building that blends in with the much earlier structures that fill downtown Exeter.
Recently, a second screen was added in the restored basement that was once the Rockingham County YMCA. This theater converts into an Art Deco night club on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Ioka Theatre was closed on December 24, 2008.
Contributed by
John Elwood, William Hochstedler
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Recent comments (view all 43 comments)
the theater will be a theater again – sign up at www.exetertheater.org for future news
I may not live in the area, but I do hope that the Ioka Theatre can be re-opened and saved as a movie theatre. I live roughly an hour or two south of Exeter, NH, and, as a moviegoer, it sounds like a great idea. I wish the townspeople the best of luck and victory in their fight to save the Ioka.
Here’s a link to a video from a rally to save the IOKA theater held on March 30, 2013.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjmW9rQc2b4&feature=share&list=UUgKsIcJjoR26_K6ZNcEYAHQ
Mid `30’s photo added courtesy of Walter Bell.
2014 article below courtesy of Patricia Lane Evans. Copy and paste to view.
http://www.seacoastonline.com/article/20140819/NEWS/408190354
https://www.unionleader.com/news/local/exeter-commission-vote-would-force-new-ioka-owners-to-keep-marquee/article_522a20f1-7938-5087-a283-b92abcdedd55.html?fbclid=IwAR1lTsRmPFadXaX5l6_HgkQqxsatNM0q4wCbwFyacu-WpkCS0h1Y5tGn3Ho
A report about the proposed redevelopment of the building and a dispute over whether the marquee will stay or go.
They need to get a second opinion, because that does not look like a $200K+ marquee restoration task. It is basically just a light box with can lights on the underside. If it wasn’t still structurally sound, it would likely have supports beneath it. They should confirm whether the plastic panels can be replaced by LED panels. That would likely be the most expensive element. The rest is just labor to sand, repaint and update the underside fixtures.
My impression was that the anticipated restoration cost was perhaps inflated in order to give the developer another reason not to have to compromise the views from the potentially affected units. That seems to me to be the real rub here.
Marquee looking for a new home…
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/exeter-news-letter/2020/11/02/new-home-wanted-exeters-ioka-marquee/6126609002/?fbclid=IwAR2Hoa5mnlLEI-ZVnpwXh6sQ6XK0tWlF01Tw9xYHa8UjxamdrN74c6qXpcs
Marquee update.
https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2021/01/05/exeter-ioka-marquee-new-home/4136023001/?fbclid=IwAR2yAVABp1CJz2RRx3UPphWbqXcDjRQZHO9SCqqjh66pJ69B0mULdCLdxyA
The actual closing date is Christmas Eve 2008.