Lyric Theatre
217 W. Water Street,
Decorah,
IA
52101
217 W. Water Street,
Decorah,
IA
52101
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Building is not demolished, but it has been disfigured with a nasty ‘modern’ slipcover, which seems to have been added before the theater closed. It’s now the location of a boutique. The building was constructed in 1898 as a dry goods store, but was vacant by early 1914. The original facade featured gorgeous multicolored brickwork with bold patterns, and a central oriel. Architects were Orff and Guillbert of Minneapolis.
Ellen Larsen opened the Lyric Theatre on September 7, 1914 in the Mrs. Iver Larsen building in downtown Decorah. Bathed in ivory and olive, the venue sold out its first motion picture show. The theatre added sound to remain viable. In the 1960s, it rotated bookings seasonally with the local drive-in. The Lyric closed permanently following the December 11, 1971 showing of Alan Alda in “Paper Lion.” The new Viking Theatre opened the next day with “West Side Story.”
Decorah is the home of Luther College, I bet lots of college students used to go to the Lyric.
Sure could use an address, more info and photos.
Thanks Chuck1231.