Strand Theater

129 E. College Street,
Iowa City, IA 52240

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Additional Info

Nearby Theaters

Strand Theater

The Strand Theater was opened April 19, 1919 with Douglas Fairbanks in “Hi Picture in the Papers”. It was closed February 1, 1968 with Audrey Hepburn in “Wait Until Dark”. It was demolished and replaced with an office building after a fire on February 1, 1968.

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on March 30, 2015 at 2:14 pm

The April 19, 1916, issue of The Iowa City Citizen said that the new Strand Theatre on College Street would open the following day. The building, formerly a saloon, had been remodeled for Thomas A. Brown, who had operated the first movie theater in Iowa City.

The advertisement for the Strand Theatre in the May 27, 1926, issue of The Daily Iowan boasted of the theater’s Robert Morton theater organ.

The marquee is about all that can be seen of the Strand in this photo. The movie In Old Arizona, the first talking picture to be filmed outdoors, and the first western with sound, was released in January, 1929.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on September 4, 2015 at 5:08 am

First film was Douglas Fairbanks' “His Picture in the Papers” on April 19, 1916 and final more than 50 years later was “Wait Until Dark” on February 1, 1968. That’s the day fire broke out on the third floor of the Strand Theatre Building with the patrons safely evacuated. But that was it as just months later, the building was demolished and replaced by a Sambo’s Restaurant within the three-story Braverman Building that replaced the 52 year old Strand.

DRum
DRum on January 5, 2017 at 3:17 pm

I remember going to this theatre as a child. I believe it showed a lot of children films such as disney films. I was 13 when the fire closed it.

rivest266
rivest266 on February 26, 2017 at 1:57 pm

Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Found on Newspapers.com powered by Newspapers.com

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 12, 2020 at 9:37 pm

February 1, 1968 fire photo added credit The City of Iowa City Government. February 2 & 3, 1968 Daily Iowan news coverage added of the Strand Theatre fire.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.