Beaver Theater
2706 Beaver Avenue,
Des Moines,
IA
50310
2706 Beaver Avenue,
Des Moines,
IA
50310
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Additional Info
Firms: Tynsley, McBroom & Higgins
Functions: Gymnasium, Martial Arts School, Retail
Previous Names: Gem Theater
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Opened as the Gem Theater on December 9, 1925 it closed in 1930 as a silent movie theatre. Following a retrofit to the plans of architectural firm Tynsley, McBroom & Higgins to become the Beaverdale Masonic Temple which opened on March 4, 1935. It reopened as the Beaver Theater on September 15, 1935 with Joan Crawford in “No More Ladies”. The Beaver Theater closed in August 1955.
It was converted into retail use in 1956. Today (2025-with the name “Masonic Temple” inscribed along the top of the facade), it is in use as a martial arts center upstairs, and on the ground floor is a bicycle store and a health club.
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Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Beaver started its career as the Gem in 1936, then took its neighborhood namesake in 1936, running as such until its closure in 1957
A history of the Acanthus Lodge of Masons has this to say about the building the Gem Theatre occupied:
However, this item appeared in the Iowa “Changes in Ownership” column in the May 27, 1930, issue of The Film Daily: “Des Moines—Gem, sold to L. H. Chamberlain by Roy Jones.”Chamberlain’s name appears in two items in The Film Daily in 1931, too, both saying that he was planning to build a $50,000 theater in Des Moines. I Haven’t found any later items about that project, so I don’t know if it was carried out. It’s possible that he had to put the project on hold until the economy improved, and that it was this house.
It’s also possible that the history of the Masonic Lodge, which has a 2013 copyright date, was mistaken about the building on Beaver Avenue having been entirely new in 1935, and that it was the Gem Theatre Chamberlain bought in 1930 rebuilt to accommodate the second floor lodge hall. The Acanthus Lodge moved to a new building in 1950, and the details of what happened in 1935 might have gotten muddled.
I still don’t know if the Gem Theatre that Roy Jones sold to L. H. Chamberlain in 1930 was demolished, or merely expanded to accommodate the Masonic Lodge upstairs, or if the lodge and new theater were actually on a different site than the original theater, but the Gem could have been the house that was the subject of this item from the November 28, 1925, issue of The Film Daily:
I don’t see the Gem listed in the 1927 FDY, but it’s possible that it opened under a different name.The July 8, 1950 issue of BoxOffice noted that “Paul E. Anderson, 52, operator of the Beaver”, died after an eight-month illness. “Anderson had operated the Beaver for the last 15 years.”
Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Jones created a new-build venue announced in 1925 for a theater, a cafe, and apartments above. Grand Opening of the Gem Theatre was on December 9, 1925. Challenged by the sound transition, they sold the venue to Dr. L.H. Chamberlin in 1930.
Chamberlin had the entire building gutted and face removed. It was retrofitted to the plans Tinsley, McBroom & Higgins into a theater space. It was on the drafting table as a fraternal hall known as the Beaverdale Masonic Temple. The long-gestating project came to fruition on March 4, 1935 as the Acanthus Masonic Lodge. Chamberlin then leased the property to Cecil G. Mulanix formerly of the Varsity who turned into the Beaver Theatre after a $15,000 retrofit. The movie house opened September 15, 1935 with “No More Ladies” likely on a 20-year leasing agreement.
A year later, Gladys Anderson took on the venue with husband, Paul. She ran it into August of 1955 closing the Beaver Theatre just past the 20-year anniversary. Anderson cited mobility and parking as the issues that the theater was facing at closure after weathering the advent of television. The space was converted to retail in 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Jones created a new-build, multiuse venue announced in 1925 for a theater, a cafe, and apartments above. Grand Opening of the Gem Theatre was on December 9, 1925. Challenged by the sound transition, they sold the venue to Dr. L.H. Chamberlin in 1930.
Chamberlin had the entire building reimagined. It was gutted with its facing removed. It was retrofitted to the plans Tinsley, McBroom & Higgins into a single-purpose, theater space. It was on the drafting table as a fraternal hall known as the Beaverdale Masonic Temple. The long-gestating project came to fruition on March 4, 1935 as the Acanthus Masonic Lodge. Chamberlin then leased the property to Cecil G. Mulanix formerly of the Varsity Theatre.
Mulanix quickly turned the fraternal hall into the Beaver Theatre after a $15,000 retrofit. The movie house opened September 15, 1935 with “No More Ladies” likely on a 20-year leasing agreement. A year later, Gladys Anderson took on the venue with husband, Paul. She ran it into August of 1955 closing the Beaver Theatre just past the 20-year anniversary.
Anderson cited mobility and parking as the issues that the theater was facing at closure after weathering the advent of television. The space was converted to retail in 1956.