Dows Theatre
105 E. Ellsworth Street,
Dows,
IA
50071
105 E. Ellsworth Street,
Dows,
IA
50071
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Additional Info
Functions: Supermarket
Previous Names: Amuzu Theatre, Am-Uz-U Theatre
Nearby Theaters
In 1914 the American Motion Picture Directory had three theatres listed as operating in Dows: Dreamland Theatre, Omega Theatre & Palace Theatre.
In 1926 the 150-seat Amuzu Theatre was operating in Dows and was still operating in 1929. By 1933 it was listed as the Am-Uz-U Theatre with 200 seats was still list in 1937. In 1938 it had been renamed Dows Theatre and is still listed with 200 seats in 1941, and 242 seats in Film Daily Yearbook 1942. In 1950 it is listed with 250 seats. Didn’t see it in one of the later FDY’s (1950’s) at all. I called an antique store (only number I could find in town) to inquire about it and the younger (30’s) literally started laughing at me for the mere idea that a movie theatre had once been in town. Aparently, it’s such stagnant community that the thought alone was preposterous. she did put me in touch with a couple older men and women (60’s and 70’s) who were natives but never heard of it.
Places like this get my juices going big time. I’d love it if someone could conjure more information such as an address, open/close years maybe even gasps a photo.
I came across a small lot of handbills for the Dows Theatre on eBay that I snatched up at an atrociously low price. Otherwise, I’d never know of the town or its theatre. I’ll upload scans of these as soon as this listing gets pushed thru.
The Dows Theatre was closed in the 1960’s. By 2009 it was been taken over by Dows Grocery store.
Contributed by
Anthony L. Vazquez-Hernandez, Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The Dows Theatre closed sometime in the 1960s, although I have not been able to establish an exact closing date. Several of my relatives remembered attending movies there. According to The History of Dows, Iowa, published for the town’s centennial celebration in 1980, John Carmichael opened Dows' first motion-picture theater, the Dreamland, around 1909 or 1910. It was located in the building that later housed the Masonic Lodge. In 1912, Carmichael constructed a new, larger theater called the Amuzu, which eventually became known as the Dows Theatre. The former Amuzu/Dows Theatre building still stands in downtown Dows, although it has been extensively altered. Following the theater’s closure, the building was acquired by Dows Super Valu and incorporated into the grocery store. A fire in 1979 caused significant damage to the store, which was subsequently renovated and reopened. The fire and earlier renovations substantially altered the building and today it isn’t recognizable as a theatre. Today, the former theater structure forms the eastern portion of Dows Community Grocery. A photograph of downtown Dows from 1916 shows the theater building, while a more recent Google Street View image shows the same location as it appears today. The theater also hosted community activities beyond regular movie screenings. My mother remembers attending Christmas prize drawings at the theater, where prizes included bicycles. I also have a family connection to the theater through my Grandma Root. During World War II, she was anxiously awaiting the return of my Grandpa Root, who was serving overseas. A friend finally persuaded her to attend a movie. During the showing, the film was stopped and an announcement was made that the war had ended. The audience erupted into cheers. The following account appears in The History of Dows, Iowa, published for the Dows Centennial Celebration in 1980: “At about 1909 or 1910 John Carmichael opened up ‘Dreamland’, Dows first motion picture theatre. Only silent pictures were available, the theatre being located in the building now being occupied by the Masonic Lodge. The electric power to actuate the arc light for the projector was supplied by a gasoline engine driven electric generator. The price of admission was ten cents. Later, in 1912, Mr. Carmichael built a new building, the ‘AMUZU’ theater, with a sloping and larger seating area. This building is now the east half of the present Dows Super Market.” The book also lists the following theater owners, in order: John Carmichael, Harvey Carmichael, Almon Drury, Howard Tollard, Earl Carter, William Guthrie, and Mr. Hudleston. Source: The History of Dows, Iowa — Dows Centennial Celebration (1980).