Abandoned Art-Deco Movie Theater in Iowa

The Capitol Theater, Burlington Iowa

Date added: December 07, 2023 Categories: Iowa Theater Art Deco

The Capitol Theater building is one the finest examples of Art Deco/Moderne design in all of Burlington and possibly even the state. In the 1930's the Des Moines based architectural firm of Wetherall and Harrison designed a total of eight movie theaters across the State of Iowa for the Central States Theater Corporation between 1936 and 1939. Only the Capitol Theater in Burlington and the Charles Theater in Charles City retain such an incredibly high degree of integrity. The remaining six theaters have undergone extensive renovation both inside and outside. All of the original theaters were designed in the Art Deco/Moderne Style, yet only the two still reflect this historic style.

The facade of the theater has dazzling vertical tiling which extends the full height of the building to form an energetic zigzag line. The ornamental banding of the colorful tiling is symbolic of the extravagance of style. Metal and enamel often adorned the exterior of buildings at this time, and the Capitol Theater is an exemplar. Fantasy was a chief feature of the style. The elegance of the wood veneer walls with stainless steel trim and the intricacy of the terrazzo floor led the theater-goer into a "Hollywood" setting. These luxurious surroundings gave patrons an experience common to the movie stars they had come to see on the silver screen. The murals painted on two of the interior walls added to the grandeur. The graceful curve of the aluminum staircase epitomized the new wave of glamorous modernism.

The spirit of Art Deco and the beginning of the Moderne movement is perfectly represented by the Capitol Theater in Burlington, Iowa. The brash colors, the dynamic geometric juxtapositions, and the shimmering metallic surfaces matched the exciting and fast mood of the era, and is wonderfully maintained in this historic building.

Building Description

Occupying a prominent location in downtown Burlington within the central business district, the Capitol Theater is a one-story, rectangular-shaped building measuring 51 x 117 feet, whose brick and terra cotta clad walls rest on concrete foundations, and is capped with a flat built-up roof system that features wood sheathing and joists on wide flange steel beams. Stylistically, the building exhibits the influence of the Art Deco and Moderne modes. The influence of the former is apparent in the vertical emphasis of the building's front; the use of tiling to provide a series of setbacks on the facade; the utilization of brightly colored terra cotta tiling to produce a rather dramatic polychromatic exterior to the building; and the zigzag effect along the roofline.

The Moderne influence is most apparent in the streamlined appearance of the marquee; the use of glass block windows on the facade; and the curved interior stairway with stainless steel trim.

The lobby of the Capitol Theater has a terrazzo floor and wood veneer walls with stainless steel trim. Abstract, free-form murals were painted on both the north and south walls. In checking with several local historians and reviewing many local newspaper articles, no evidence could be found with regard to the artist of the murals, or when they were done. The upper mezzanine floor is of steel and concrete. One minor problem is the rusting of steel in one location. With the exception of the relocation of one restroom and concession stand in 1969, the building has undergone little significant alteration.

The overall structural condition of the building is fairly good. There is minimal rusting on one of the primary steel beams spanning the building. The condition of the exterior walls is also reasonably good.

The Capitol Theater is a textbook example of the Moderne and Art Deco modes as applied to movie theater design, and is the only building of this style locally possessing such a high degree of integrity.