Varsity Theatre
2412 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50014
2412 Lincoln Way,
Ames,
IA
50014
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Central States Theatres Corp, Cinemark
Architects: Roland 'Tip' Goucher Harrison, Frank E. Wetherell
Firms: Wetherell & Harrison
Nearby Theaters
Opened as a single screen on October 4, 1938 with Don Ameche in “You Can’t Have Everything” & Russell Gleason in “The Higgins Family”. It has since been converted to a twin. The Varsity Theatre plays independent and general releases with admissions ranging from $3.75 to $5.75.
The Varsity Theatre was originally operated by Central States Theatres with lobby space added and a second screen. It is was last operated by Cinemark Theatres, who closed it at the end of 2008. It had been demolished by 2018.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Here’s an illustrated web page about the Varsity Theatre</a>, courtesy of the Ames Historical Society. It says that the Varsity was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm Wetherell & Harrison, and that the same firm also designed the Collegian Theatre in Ames.
The Varsity II closed at the end of 2008. No word yet what will happen to the theater.
Here is an October 1938 ad in the Ames Daily Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/nrnurk
I am really sad the varsity theater closed. They played some fantastic independent movies, and had some fun midnight screenings.
Currently listed for lease on LoopNet, $2,000 a month.
From Street View, it appears that this theatre has been demolished.
Indeed it looks like the whole block has been replaced except for the four-story brick building at the corner of Stanton Avenue. The new project looks like one big building in satellite view, though the facade treatment attempts to make it appear from the street to be several narrower buildings.
The theater opened with a double feature: Don Ameche in “You Can’t Have Everything”, and Russell Gleason in “The Higgins Family”.