Strand Theatre

206 S. Federal Avenue,
Mason City, IA 50401

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 18, 2023 at 4:55 pm

My August 29 comment provides a source for 1911 opening of this Princess Theater. The Princess listed in the 1908 Cahn guide is, for now, a mystery theater. The 1911 Princess must be the one listed in the 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory, though it is listed without an address.

The earliest mention I’ve found of a house called the Casino in Mason City is this item from the December 4, 1915 issue of Moving Picture World, but either the claim that it was a newly-erected theater was mistaken or this was a different Casino theater: “MASON CITY, IA.—A. Frankel has erected a new moving picture theater which he has named the New Casino.”

SethG
SethG on October 18, 2023 at 7:29 am

The 1918 Sanborn calls this the Casino, so it wasn’t the Princess very long.

SethG
SethG on October 18, 2023 at 7:09 am

This can’t have been built in 1908, since it’s not on the 1909 map. That corner’s just an empty lot, although the Lamb Lumber Co. had been there in 1901. Need to update the description.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on August 29, 2023 at 5:40 am

An item datelined Mason City in the March 11, 1911 issue of Moving Picture World said “Mesers. Arthur and Heffner are making arrangements to open a new vaudeville and moving picture theater here. It will be known as the Princess.” The Princess Theatre operating at Mason City in 1908 must have been a different house.

In Polk’s 1912 Iowa business directory, the Princess was the only Mason City theater listed among both the picture houses (along with the Orpheum, Bijou and Star) and among regular theaters (along with the Wilson Theatre and Parker’s Opera House.)

Hume
Hume on June 26, 2023 at 9:28 am

Going to The Strand was a step back in time to the earliest days of commercial cinema because it was built in 1906-1908. In the early 1970s it had an unsavory reputation for uncleanliness, but it held its own as a second-run cinema until it was closed in 1975 to make way for downtown redevelopment in Mason City. Next door to it was The Golden Rule clothing store, which sold work wear and Western wear. On its other side, to the south, was an old-fashioned soda fountain that managed to persist despite nicer things elsewhere. Upstairs were apartments. This place was one large building on South Federal as can be seen the photo.

rivest266
rivest266 on May 26, 2018 at 1:45 pm

This opened on August 23rd, 1930 as Strand. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

igannett22
igannett22 on February 22, 2017 at 10:52 am

Why was the theatre closed?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 12, 2016 at 12:14 pm

The Princess Theatre was in operation at least as early as 1908. It was listed in the 1913-1914 Cahn guide as having 485 seats on the main floor, 180 in the balcony, and a gallery seating 49.

Mmcguire
Mmcguire on February 12, 2016 at 10:27 am

When was this Theatre originally built?

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 13, 2009 at 11:37 pm

According to the obituary of John McKee Heffner, long time Mason City theater man, published in the April 7, 1956, issue of Boxoffice Magazine, the Strand Theatre had earlier been called the Princess Theatre.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 23, 2009 at 11:06 pm

Don: The April 9, 1962, issue of Boxoffice Magazine said that the premier of “The Music Man” was to be presented at the Palace Theatre in Mason City. The July 2 issue of the same publication reported on the event, which was held in conjunction with the North Iowa Band Festival and a national Music Man Band Competition.

About 125,000 people crowded into the town, and Meredith Wilson headed a three-hour parade, leading the Mason City band. A total of 8000 bandsmen participated in the parade, and the invitational press premier of the movie was held at the Palace that evening.

DonRosen
DonRosen on June 28, 2008 at 9:45 pm

THIS must be the theatre was where the premiere of “The Music Man” took place in 1962, complete with Robert Preston, Shirley Jones and Ronnie Howard, on hand. It was a few blocks away from Meredith Wilson’s boyhood home. It’s now a Wells Fargo bank…IF this is the theatre I’m thinking of. I first thought it was The State Theatre, but that theatre closed in the 50s.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 19, 2007 at 7:06 am

In 1957, the Mason City Globe-Gazette was advertising films at the Strand, Cecil, Palace and Lake.