Wonderland Theatre

The paper that mentioned Mr. Ling’s Family Theatre “…in this city….” was from Lemars (or Le Mars) so that’s where the theater must have been.

If this house was indeed the Wonderland (which seems likely) then it had an earlier (and rather odd) name. The May 1, 1909 Moving Picture World said: “Cherokee, Ia.-Henry Ling has purchased the Cynic Theater here, and has taken possession.” The April 17, 1909 issue of The Lemars Globe Post provided more details:

“Henry Ling, former proprietor of the Family theatre in this City, has purchased the Cynic theatre at Cherokee and takes possession of the same Monday next. The place will be named Wonderland and will be closed until the first of May, and in the interim Ling will renovate and remodel the building making it over to suit his ideas of a modern moving picture establishment. He will also install the latest machinery and says he will have an establishment there second to none of its kind in this section of the country. The Lings have made many friends here who wish them prosperity and happiness in their new home.”

Minor correction - According to the NRHP listing for downtown, the replacement is from 1974. Not clear if the earlier building lasted that long.