Star Theatre
113 W. Main Street,
Ute,
IA
51060
113 W. Main Street,
Ute,
IA
51060
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The State Theatre was opened in 1917, replacing a crude wooden structure which was to the west. It’s an attractive little building, with two-tone brown brick and still has its original awning. Around 1928 it was renamed Star Theatre.
There is very little information on this theatre, but Ute was never more than about 600 people, and has shrunk quite a bit. The Star Theatre was closed on January 1, 1956. It briefly reopened in 1957. It is used as the local VFW.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
This theater was in the planning stage, at least, by 1916, when the November 4 issue of Motion Picture News reported that “Albert Lafrentz has purchased two lots in a prominent part of Ute, and will begin at once the erection of a brick building to be used as a moving picture theatre and opera house.”
It was listed in the 1926 FDY as the State, but by 1928 it was operating as the Star Theatre (Ute did not appear in the 1927 FDY.) It was listed with 300 seats through the 1930s. The April 20, 1946 issue of Showmen’s Trade Review reported the sale of the house: “Mr. and Mrs. Archie Mahoney have purchased the Star Theatre, Ute, from A. L. Lafrentz, who built the house in 1916 and has operated it since. Mahoney is a war veteran.”
The Star was still listed in 1951, in the last edition of FDY to which I have access, still with 300 seats. An item in Motion Picture Herald of January 7, 1956 said that “[t]he Star theatre in Ute closed with the New Year’s Day showing.” The May 11, 1957 issue of Boxoffice said that the Star had reopened under the sponsorship of the Ute Commercial Club, with two showings a week, on Wednesday and Saturday nights. I’ve found nothing later about the theater.
Incidentally, Albert Ludwig Lafrentz (January 26, 1885-October 30, 1955) is buried in Saint Clair Cemetery in Ute.
Thanks for the research!