Strand Theatre

The town of Jewell spells its name with a double “l” at the end. In early publications it is sometimes referred to as Jewell Junction.

Here is evidence of an earlier theater in Jewell, which might or might not have become the Strand: the October 14, 1916, issue of Motography mentions the Isis Theatre, which had just been purchased by George Peterson, manager of the Grand Theatre at Story City. An item in the December 9 issue of the same publication said that Peterson had bought a lot where he intended to erect a new building for the Isis.

The Strand was almost certainly located on the two block stretch of Main Street between Carmichael Street and Edwards Street that contains virtually all of Jewell’s old business district. Of all the buildings on the street, the one that looks most like it might have been a theater at one time is the one at 712 Main, which houses the Axis Lanes bowling alley. This building housed a bowling alley by the 1960s, and though later long abandoned it was renovated and reopened a few years ago. The building looks to date from the 1910s, which is when the Strand would have been built if it was originally the Isis Theatre.

I’m not sure we have the ID right. A 200 seat theater would have fit just about anywhere. There are a lot of buildings missing. The bowling alley looks more like an old dealership or garage, and is really big to only have fit 200 people. 350-375 seems like a different building from a 200 seater. That larger capacity makes a little more sense for the bowling alley. Frustratingly, there do not seem to have been any Sanborns made of Jewell, even though it was close to 1,000 people by 1900.