Varsity Theatre

Described as a neighborhood house when it opened on October 1, 1932 with Barbara Stanwyck in “Shopworn”. The theatre was originally named the Iowa Theatre whose address was given as 1115 W. 14th Street. Constructed at a cost of $12,000, it was owned by Ray E. Duttle.

At 100 feet long and 24 feet wide, the theatre offered 324 upholstered seats. Spanish Colonial style architecture was carried out both inside and outside the building. The concrete floor sloped from the lobby to the stage with a total drop of 7 feet. The owner planned to operate the theatre seven nights a week, two shows a night with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. (1)

On February 27, 1938 it was renamed Varsity Theatre. By 1943 the theatre was open Friday Saturday and Sunday only. (2)

The 1939 through the 1959 Dubuque City Directory gave the address as 1111 Loras Boulevard

The Varsity Theatre was closed in 1960 and it became a laundromat in March 1961.

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