The Ritz theatre was one of several stand-alone theatre buildings in Correctionville, Iowa, the first of which was called “The Scenic” (later “New Scenic”), located in the former New Hardware store, next to the Columbia Opera House. The New Scenic closed permanently after a fire in 1927. The small hollow brick building that would later be called “The Ritz” was built by John Clark in 1922 and was first known as “The American.” When purchased by Cecil “Lefty” Seff, he renamed it to “The Radio” and then “New Radio,” selling the theater to the St. Peters brothers in 1928. It was Cecil and Eli St. Peters who named it “The Ritz” but they lost interest when their mother fell down the basement stairs of the theater and died. The brothers sold it to L. W. Splichal in 1929 and he ran it until 1939, introducing “talkies” and installing a street side well-lit marquee. Richard “Dick” DeVries owned it from 1939-1951, when he sold it to Edward Osipowicz. All subsequent owners kept the name “The Ritz” and the Osipowicz family ran full-time scheduled showings until about 1966, and the chairs and equipment were removed in about 1980. You can still see the chains that once held the grand marquee and location of the poster boxes on the streetside. The former theater building is now used for equipment storage.
Sources: 150th Anniversary History, Correctionville, Iowa; The Correctionville News; Interview with Denny Osipowicz; and “Bailey: A Wonderful Life.”
This theatre location was known as the Scenic, located between the Columbia Opera House (also used as a theatre) and the Weeks drug store (then operated by C. C. Yockey). The building was originally the New Hardware store, but it was converted into a full-time theatre in 1913 (I’ve attached a photo circa 1920) with “a slant floor, plush chairs and a musician’s balcony in the city style,” as reported in the Correctionville News. After a fire in 1927, the Scenic closed permanently, leaving the New Radio theatre (renamed The Ritz in 1928) as the only full-time theatre building in the vibrant little city. The Ritz building is still standing, though it ended its life as a movie theatre in 1968.
The Ritz theatre was one of several stand-alone theatre buildings in Correctionville, Iowa, the first of which was called “The Scenic” (later “New Scenic”), located in the former New Hardware store, next to the Columbia Opera House. The New Scenic closed permanently after a fire in 1927. The small hollow brick building that would later be called “The Ritz” was built by John Clark in 1922 and was first known as “The American.” When purchased by Cecil “Lefty” Seff, he renamed it to “The Radio” and then “New Radio,” selling the theater to the St. Peters brothers in 1928. It was Cecil and Eli St. Peters who named it “The Ritz” but they lost interest when their mother fell down the basement stairs of the theater and died. The brothers sold it to L. W. Splichal in 1929 and he ran it until 1939, introducing “talkies” and installing a street side well-lit marquee. Richard “Dick” DeVries owned it from 1939-1951, when he sold it to Edward Osipowicz. All subsequent owners kept the name “The Ritz” and the Osipowicz family ran full-time scheduled showings until about 1966, and the chairs and equipment were removed in about 1980. You can still see the chains that once held the grand marquee and location of the poster boxes on the streetside. The former theater building is now used for equipment storage.
Sources: 150th Anniversary History, Correctionville, Iowa; The Correctionville News; Interview with Denny Osipowicz; and “Bailey: A Wonderful Life.”
This theatre location was known as the Scenic, located between the Columbia Opera House (also used as a theatre) and the Weeks drug store (then operated by C. C. Yockey). The building was originally the New Hardware store, but it was converted into a full-time theatre in 1913 (I’ve attached a photo circa 1920) with “a slant floor, plush chairs and a musician’s balcony in the city style,” as reported in the Correctionville News. After a fire in 1927, the Scenic closed permanently, leaving the New Radio theatre (renamed The Ritz in 1928) as the only full-time theatre building in the vibrant little city. The Ritz building is still standing, though it ended its life as a movie theatre in 1968.