Orpheum Theater
215 S. Main Street,
North English,
IA
52316
215 S. Main Street,
North English,
IA
52316
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Must be the same place. Obviously it reopened, perhaps sometime after the war. From that brief history, it does not seem like the initial use was as a cinema.
A book was published in 1954 commemorating the Centennial of North English. It says that “[i]n 1908 Alva Allen built the East Side Theatre. Stage shows were produced weekly and the building was also used for roller skating. Alva Allen sold the opera house to John Whitmore. Other owners were J. W. Hadley and Roy Coxe. Vance Smith and son Dean operate the Orpheum Theatre in the same remodeled building at the present time.”
Vance Smith is mentioned as operator the Orpheum in the April 13, 1929 Motion Picture News. The house had just had sound equipment installed.