State Theatre at Washington, Iowa ::: World's Oldest Operating Cinema

The State Theatre in Washington Iowa, USA has consistently served as a sanctum of cinematic excellence ever since its screening over 122 years ago on 14 May 1897. Following an extensive revitalization of in 2010, the locals of Washington Iowa have hailed the State Theatre as a community treasure; with the venue attracting cinema enthusiasts from across the world who visit to experience the glory of its uniquely restored 1940's appearance that exudes a magical charm of the golden age of Hollywood. Raghavendra T - Editor-Publisher, TheatreWorld visits the cinematic shrine, where theatre-manager Crystle Christner along with owners Robert L Fridley and Brian Fridley host a detailed tour of the venue as they discuss the State Theatre's rich legacy, it's restoration, the current weekly movie schedule and what's in-store for the years to come.

On 26 April 2016, the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records heralded the Washington Iowa State Theatre as the oldest continuously operating cinema theatre in the world, running in for over 118 years and 384 days at the time. And to this day the iconic structure still stands proud - revitalized in appearance but still exuding the same old charm that it did way back in the early 1900's. 

In our fast paced world, where cinemas have stepped into an age of multi-screen spaces with the latest in high-tech AV experience, the State Theatre retains the magic of a traditional cinema hall setting as it affords a valuable glimpse into the past by giving patrons the opportunity to enjoy a movie experience the way people did almost a hundred years ago, but with the technological frills that you'd expect from a modern-day establishment. An indelible piece of history in itself - the State Theatre has, for several years, stood as a cherished beacon of cinema-culture not just for the 7000+ residents of Iowa's Washington city, but also for cinema zealots across the world.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Officially opening their doors to the public on 14 May 1897 with a capacity of 783 seats, the State Theatre (formerly known as The Graham Opera House), showed the first ever moving picture at the venue on a cinematographe that was made in Paris, France. Back then, tickets for the first moving picture were sold to the public for 15, 25 and 35 US cents each; and there onwards, the State Theatre continued to show motion pictures on a regular basis. This was almost entirely due to the brilliant and enterprising W. Frank Brinton - a wealthy farmer's son who devoted his life to projecting early motion pictures.

Frank and his wife's efforts transformed the State Theatre into a thriving cinema where films played to sold-out houses almost every day that the theatre was functional. Brinton purchased films from catalogues produced by the leading companies of the day, almost all of which were showcased at the State Theatre. At around the same time, the husband-wife duo established The Brinton Entertainment Co. which travelled from Minnesota to Texas projecting several early films from as far away as Europe and the Middle East, as well as hand-painted "magic lantern slides". And their efforts, by all accounts, were a great success. Speaking specifically about the State Theatre - the cinema drew in values of about $100 a day during its peak; which for the era, was an incredibly huge amount of earning. After Frank's death in 1919 the State Theatre witnessed several changes in operations as well as appearance - with the theatre witnessing several overhauls over the course of its existence.

OF DARK CLOUDS & SILVER-LININGS

In November of 2010, a cigarette discarded in a trash can ignited a fire in the projection room, which subsequently led to extensive smoke and water damage throughout the building. Owing to this, the State had to ultimately be shut down, leaving the theatre loving community in Washington grief-stricken. 

Raghav, Editor - Publisher of TheatreWorld with Robert L Fridley, Owner of State Theatre at their newly opened The Palms Theatres & IMAX, Iowa

Luckily, the State had its very own guardian angel looking over it-Robert L Fridley of the iconic R.L Fridley Theatres -who, along with his son Brian, took up a determined effort to have the beloved State Theatre up-and-running within little to no time at all.

Raghav with Adam Nihart, Deputy.Manager, R.L. Fridley Theatres

Robert L Fridley started running movies in 1936. He operated a Jack Rabbit Circuit, where he travelled from town to town and set up portable projectors in places that didn't have a theatre. In 1974 he formed R.L. Fridley Theatres, Inc. as an Iowa corporation; and under his leadership the company has been a prominent leader in the motion picture theatre exhibition business for over sixty years, providing exceptional service and presentation, great entertainment choices, and competitive prices to the local communities that they serve.

Adam Nihart with Crystle Christner, Theatre Manager, State Theatre

After the fire caused extensive smoke and water damage to the iconic theatre place, R.L. Fridley Theatres - the current owners of the Washington Iowa State Theatre -commissioned a serious remodelling of the venue, utilizing historic tax credits and grants funnelled through Washington's downtown revitalization group. The extensive overhaul involved work carried out on the interiors as well as the exterior facades of the theatre, with the industrious owners deciding to go against the grain of a modern look and instead channel efforts into restoring the building to the way it looked back in 1942.

102 year old Robert Fridley, founder of R.L. Fridley Theatres inc, comments on the decision saying, "This theatre has stood as a celebration of community for decades. The State is not just a part of history; it is history in itself. As a theatre, it has always been the one place that people visited to take a step back into time quite literally; and become one with the rich history and legacy of cinema. That's why we decided to restore the State to resemble what it looked like during one of its most glorious periods of existence."

RESTORING OLD GLORY

Reopened in April 2011 and operating strong ever since, the theatre affords throwback to the old era in several aspects, the likes of which include a newly installed digitally lit marquee that's been fashioned to look like the one in '42, complete with vintage styled lettering. Improvements inside the theatre also came in the form of work commissioned to rejuvenate the seating and carpets, the concession area, and much more. The enlarged concession stand sports an expanded menu offering pretzel bites, pizzas, and more; of which unsurprisingly though, popcorn, soda and candy remain the top sellers. There's also a restored balcony section, which was reopened after several years following elaborate work done to restore the seating and structural integrity at the space. That apart, a new gold waterfall curtain was commissioned on the stage, which has ever since, been lifted before each show to introduce the movie being displayed, just like the old days.

Brian Fridley of R.L Fridley Theatres shares, "We wanted to maintain the State's legacy, which is why much of the work has been more practical than aesthetic. From the restored, digitally lit marquee to the plush-carpeted lobby hung with classic movie images to the gold-accented, red-and-black paint scheme, the intent was to make the theatre a place you want to be, a place where you can reminisce, relive an era gone by, and experience something more than watching movies in a modern multiplex."

TWO STEPS FORWARD…

The State's decision to remodel its appearance based on its look in the 1940's must not be misunderstood as any kind of disdain for technological advancement, as the management have clearly incorporated the best in today's offerings to extended modern comforts to their patrons. For example, the seats in the early days were fixed back with very negligible recline value and more in-tune with a side-seating format (with respect to the screen). In contrast, the theatre now boasts a comfortable seating scheme with rocker-back seats that sport cup-holders and better leg-space, which is more in accordance with conventional formats. That apart, the owners have also integrated a state-of-the-art Barco digital projection, Dolby Digital surround sound, RealD 3D system, JBL Speakers along with QSC Amplifier and Server by GDC Technology, which ensures that movies at the State Theatre today can be enjoyed in both 2D as well as 3D; of course, with a variety of popular candies and drinks!

BUSINESS 'WISE'

The all-important question of 'How has the remodelling worked with the community?' is addressed by the State Theatre's manager, Crystle Christner, as she asserts, "A lot of work has been done. The theatre recounts the glory that it's carried for over the past 100 years, and the community is loving it! We were pleasantly surprised with the public appreciation and the business uptick we saw, and I guess we can say that the improvements were well received."

And how exactly has business been for The State? 

Crystle shares that the theatre now shows recent and first-run movies (including 3D) 365 days per year on its single screen, with free 46-ounce popcorn every Tuesday with paid admission. Usually it screens 2 shows during weekdays and 4 during weekends, with the management usually deciding the week's show scheduleon Mondays. Standard ticket prices apply to all seats including ones at the balcony and the ever popular "middle-middle" seats located at the central section on the lower level, and patrons can also book their tickets online, perfectly demonstrating the State Theatre's ideology of incorporating and delivering modern luxuries in a vintage setting.

A GRIPPING SENSE OF COMMUNITY

When asked whether the State Theatre could have been more successful had it adopted the multi-screen approach, Crystal affirms that locals probably wouldn't have reacted with as much gusto as they aren't too keen on multiplexes. Making a light hearted reference to how customers enjoy eating popcorn from a machine that's been in action since 1948 she jokes, "The popcorn here is really well-seasoned, and people absolutely love it!" On a more serious note though, she explains the notion why the community isn't really enamoured with the concept of multiplexes, saying "Sixty-five to seventy percent of our population is retired. Yes, they do love enjoying digital projection and full surround sound as they take in a film. But what they appreciate even more is enjoying the atmosphere of a vintage cinema hall. They don't want new-fangled stuff," she said.

In fact, the community played quite an active role in the theatre's restoration, with residents volunteering to pitch-in in whatever way they could to help. And their active participation towards the theatre welfare is more than evident in their continual love, support and patronage. Says Crystle, "So many people have given to the project;so many people have donated their time and talent, and it's been so neat to see how the community has reacted and joined in. We have about 15 employees here - all of whom have dedicated so much to the theatre; and patrons pretty much know and interact with us like we're all part of one big family. The development is a testament to the can-do spirit of this community."

THE STORYBOARD CONTINUES...

It's true - few things in life are more magical than going into a classic movie theatre and getting lost in the stories projected onto the screen... from the aroma of lovely buttery popcorn and the hush and anticipation as the lights dim for the movie to begin-watching a movie on the silver-screen is timeless experience. This is the kind of joy and atmosphere you can expect from your visit to the Washington Iowa State Theatre. The theatre is undoubtedly a historic gem and one that will be enjoyed by the local community and visitors from afar for years to come. If you haven't been here yet, it's definitely worth a trip.

This article was published in TheatreWorld - June - August 2019 edition which can be seen online at www.theatreworld.in