Malek Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Malek Theatre
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 116 2nd Ave. NE., Independence, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1947 |
| Architect | Wetherell & Harrison |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000329 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 2009 |
The Malek Theatre, also known as The Malek, is a cool old movie theatre in Independence, Iowa. It was built in 1947 and looks like something from a classic movie. This theatre is famous for its special style called Art Deco.
The Malek Theatre was built after another theatre, the Grand Theatre, burned down in 1945. Bob C. Malek, a local businessman, wanted to build a new, super safe theatre. He hired architects Wetherell & Harrison to design it to be completely fireproof.
Contents
A Look Inside and Out
The Malek Theatre is a great example of Art Deco style. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. It uses smooth surfaces, geometric shapes, and fancy decorations.
Outside the Theatre
The outside of the theatre is very striking. It has a tall, stepped tower at the front. This tower is made with special glass blocks and structural glass. The building uses smooth materials like Glastone and Lannon stone. It also has curved walls, which is a common Art Deco feature. The building measures about 60 feet wide and 140 feet long. It stands 42 feet tall.
Inside the Theatre
When you step inside, it feels like you've gone back in time. The inside of the Malek Theatre still looks much like it did when it first opened. It has cool Art Deco light fixtures and ceilings with curved edges, called coved ceilings. These ceilings were even lit up with neon lights!
An artist named Merle Reed from California hand-painted the designs inside the theatre in 1945. These paintings add to the theatre's unique style. Many of these paintings have been fixed up or repainted over the years.
Special Features
When it first opened, the Malek Theatre had some really neat features. It had two special rooms for private viewings. These rooms had doors and thick glass to keep sounds in or out. One of these rooms was even called "the crying room." It was designed for parents who had a fussy child and didn't want to bother other movie watchers.
History and Changes
The Malek Theatre cost $140,000 to build, which was a lot of money back in 1946! It took about a year to finish.
Splitting the Theatre
Originally, the theatre had one large auditorium with 862 seats. But in 1982, the managers decided to split the theatre into two smaller rooms. This created a "twinned" theatre with about 300 seats in each room. They hoped this would bring in more people. However, even after this change, the theatre closed soon after.
In 2002, the wall that divided the theatre into two rooms was removed. This brought the main auditorium back to its original open design.
Historic Recognition
Because of its special design and how well it has kept its original look, the Malek Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. This means it's an important historical building worth protecting. It's one of only two Art Deco buildings in Independence, Iowa. The other is the Buchanan County Courthouse.
The Theatre Today
As of 2014, the Malek Theatre was closed. Its outside has faced some small damage from weather and time. However, there have been plans to restore parts of the theatre. For example, blueprints were found to replace two tall columns that used to be on the sides of the stage.
The Malek Theatre remains a cool example of Art Deco design and a piece of Independence, Iowa's history.
