Sioux Theatre (#2)
710 Central Avenue,
Hawarden,
IA
51023
710 Central Avenue,
Hawarden,
IA
51023
No one has favorited this theater yet
Not to be confused with the New Dunlap Theatre which opened in 1924 and became the Tivoli Theatre in 1928 and the Sioux Theatre in 1939 (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures).
The 228-seat Comet Theatre opened December 23, 1944 with “Scandalous Romance”. The original owner was Harry Lankhorst, who ran the theatre (along with the Wigwam Drive-In theatre, north of Hawarden) from 1939 to April 1963. Lankhorst sold the theatres to B.N (Norc) Brown, who ran them until April 1, 1974, when he sold them to Gary Mossengren. The Sioux Theatre was open usually from January to the first week of May and opened again on Labor day weekend.
On November 11, 1961 it became the Sioux Theatre, after the closure of the previous Sioux (originally Dunlap) Theater. A new rock front was put on the building, along with a remodeled front lobby, which included panelling and new carpet. The seats were metal with maroon vinyl cushions. The marquee was a metal sign which said SIOUX down it with an Indian head on the top, complete with a headdress that lit up. The reopening movie was Sandra Dee in “Tammy Tell Me True”
The Sioux Theatre closed for good on February 18, 1983 with Walt Disney’s animated feature “Peter Pan” (the last'spld out; film show had been “ET” at Christmas 1982).
The building sat empty until it was torn down, along with two other buildings on the same block, on March 10, 1988. The marquee was saved, along with a couple of the chairs for a local museum.
Contributed by
Dan Eastman
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Some recent research might provide a little clarification to the above –
The original Sioux Theater was located in the 2-story building currently standing at 809 Central. This building was constructed in 1924 as the Dunlap Theater. It became the Tivoli Theater in 1928 under the ownership of Jack Bouma. In 1939, the theater changed hands and names again, becoming the Sioux Theater. In 1961, when the theater building was converted into Streit Pharmacy, the Sioux Theater name transferred over to the former Comet Theater at 710 Central that is discussed above.
The original Dunlap Theater (later Tivoli and Sioux Theater) building is still standing and I would recommend a new separate entry to help eliminate confusion.
A War-time theatre, the Comet opened for Harry Lankhorst on December 23, 1944 with “Scandalous Romance.” The Comet had a new rock front, lobby downstairs, and finished interiors with abundant red cedar. The main floor lobby with concessions stand and ticket booth used knotty pine paneling and feature an attractive fireplace in its rustic look. Wall to wall screen and an auditorium with a 250 seating capacity and air conditioning were featured.
The venue got a refresh and opened as the new home of the Sioux which moved here as Sioux Theatre #2 with “Tammy Tell Me True” at its reboot launch on November 11, 1961. It closed February 18, 1983 with “Walt Disney’s Peter Pan.” It was torn down on March 10-17, 1988.
Might be clearer to simply call it Sioux Theatre #2, btw.