New Strand Theatre

The New Strand Theatre is a historic movie theater located at 111 E 3rd St. in West Liberty, Iowa, United States. It was originally built in 1910 as the West Liberty Opera House at a cost of $18,944.50, funded through popular subscription and stock subscribed by members of the Knights of Pythias lodge. The first floor served as an opera house hosting traveling roadshows, vaudeville acts, musical numbers, and plays, while the second floor was used by the Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters. The first performance was a benefit play titled "The Traveling Salesman" on December 6, 1910, with tickets priced at $1.50, $2.00, and $2.50. The house seated 763 people, and total sales for the opening night were $2,112.00. In 1921, Ludy Bosten became proprietor, joined by Paul Tobias in 1927; during their ownership, the opera house ceased hosting road shows and transitioned to motion pictures. Today, the New Strand Theatre operates as a single-screen cinema showing first-run and classic films, with daily showtimes listed on its website. It is owned by New Strand Enterprises, LLC. The theater offers concessions and hosts events, maintaining its role as a community entertainment venue in West Liberty.

The New Strand Theatre was originally constructed in 1910 as the West Liberty Opera House. The building cost $18,944.50, with funds raised by popular subscription and stock subscribed by members of the Knights of Pythias lodge. The first floor was designed as an opera house for traveling roadshows, vaudeville actors and actresses, musical numbers, and plays. The second floor was occupied by the Knights of Pythias and the Pythian Sisters. The inaugural performance was a benefit play called "The Traveling Salesman" on Tuesday, December 6, 1910. Will Maxon had leased the opera house and, along with C.A. Nichols and G.B. Embree, was in charge of the play; Ivan Noland managed ticket sales. Tickets went on sale at 2:00 p.m. on November 30, and by 6:00 p.m. half the seats were sold at prices of $1.50, $2.00, and $2.50. "Fig" Morris was the first ticket purchaser, buying the front row of the balcony (21 seats), and he closed his store so that all could attend. The house seated 763 people, and total sales for the night reached $2,112.00. Music was provided by the Crescent Five, composed of C.N. Rowley, Archie Ditmars, Elmer and Clyde Wells, and Pearl Probst. The first show under Mr. Maxon's lease was "Nancy," a musical drama, on December 19, 1910, which was entirely sold out. In 1921, Ludy Bosten became the proprietor of the New Strand, and in 1927 he was joined by Paul Tobias. During their ownership, the opera house ceased hosting road shows and began showing motion pictures. The theater continues to operate today as a movie theater, owned by New Strand Enterprises, LLC, and shows films such as "Avengers: Endgame Encore" and "Practical Magic 2" according to its website.

• 1927

  Paul Tobias joined as co-owner; transition to motion pictures

• 1921

  Ludy Bosten became proprietor

• 1910

  Built as West Liberty Opera House at a cost of $18,944.50

• 1910

  First performance: benefit play "The Traveling Salesman" on December 6

• 1910

  First show under lease: "Nancy" on December 19

Community-focused historic single-screen movie theater

• Movie screenings

• Concessions

• Event hosting

1. 1Daily Showtimes - New Strand Theatrenewstrand.com
2. 2History - New Strand Theatrenewstrand.com
3. 3About Us - New Strand Theatrenewstrand.com
4. 4New Strand Theatre - Wikidatawikidata.org