Cotton Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cotton Theater
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front of the theater
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 103 Main St. Cedar Falls, Iowa |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Alban and Fisher |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Part of | Cedar Falls Downtown Historic District (ID100001673) |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000764 |
| Added to NRHP | July 23, 1993 |
The Cotton Theater is a historic building in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It's a place where people watch plays and shows. This theater has had a few names over the years, including Regent Theatre and Oster Regent Theatre. It's located right in the heart of downtown Cedar Falls.
A local person named Frank Cotton built the theater between 1909 and 1910. That's how it got its first name! In 1993, experts said it was one of the best buildings on Cedar Falls' main street. It was also the only theater left there at that time. The building looks like it's from the Italian Renaissance period.
Contents
A Look Back: The Theater's Story
Grand Opening and Early Days
The Cotton Theater first opened its doors on Thursday, June 23, 1910. The very first show was a play called The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary. This play was chosen from the famous May Robson Company. When it first opened, the theater was very large. It could seat as many as 1,000 people!
Name Changes and New Life
In 1918, the theater's name was changed to the Regent Theatre. Many years later, in 1991, the Blair family and the Beck Trust gave the theater to the Cedar Falls Community Theatre group. This was a big step for the theater's future.
In 1994, the theater got a major makeover. It was restored and updated for about $1.2 million. After this big renovation, it was given a new name: the Oster Regent Theatre. Today, the theater is still very active. It now has seating for 500 people.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
The theater was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it's recognized as an important historic site in the United States. Later, in 2017, it was also included as a special building within the Cedar Falls Downtown Historic District.
