Esquire Theatre

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Uploaded on: August 5, 2025

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October 1954 photo & description credit Davenport Iowa History.

“Warren L. Langwith New Car Parade - October 1954

Here’s another photo of Warren L. Langwith’s parade of new cars for 1955. This shot was taken from the southeast corner of Third and Ripley streets. The Esquire Theater is in the background. It was located within the Columbia Hotel and was originally called the “Columbia Theater.”

The Columbia Hotel and Theatre was built in 1913 on the northwest corner of Third and Ripley streets at a cost of $120,000. The 40 room hotel opened on December 1, 1913.

In 1940, the Columbia Theater became the Esquire and remained so until it closed for good on Wednesday night, January 7, 1959. It left the city with four theaters. The Sunset Theater, at Fourth and Cedar streets, had recently closed as well, on October 29, 1958."