Tower Theatre
Oklahoma City, OK
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

Check out this beautiful Art Deco structure for the Tower Theatre in Oklahoma City. The vertical "Tower" lettering and sweeping marquee still look every bit as impressive as they did when the theater opened in 1937. Designed by noted architect W. Scott Dunne, it quickly became one of the signature buildings along Northwest 23rd Street.

Like many neighborhood theaters built during Hollywood's golden age, the Tower offered moviegoers an escape with its large auditorium, stage, and elegant Art Deco styling. While many theaters of its era were demolished or drastically altered, the Tower managed to survive even after closing in 1989.

Today, the theater stands as one of Oklahoma City's best-preserved examples of Art Deco commercial architecture. Its glowing tower and marquee continue to anchor the Uptown 23rd district, proving that some of the best roadside signs are attached to equally memorable buildings. 08-17

UPDATE: Following an extensive restoration, the Tower Theatre reopened as a live entertainment venue. The historic exterior, including its iconic tower and neon marquee, was carefully preserved, and the theater once again serves as one of Oklahoma City's most recognizable landmarks. 06-26

Fox Theatre
Fort Madison, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This Fox Theatre in Fort Madison features the classic Fox lettering on both its marquee and front façade. It's the kind of theater that instantly catches your eye as you drive through downtown.

The building originally opened as the Strand Theatre in 1919 before becoming part of the Fox theater chain in the early 1930s. A major remodeling in 1951 gave the theater its distinctive porcelain enamel façade and the neon marquee that still defines the building today. For generations, it served as the place to catch everything from Saturday matinees to the latest Hollywood releases.

While many small-town movie houses have disappeared over the years, this one remains a reminder of an era when nearly every downtown had a grand theater with a glowing marquee welcoming moviegoers each night. 08-17

UPDATE: The Fox Theatre continues to operate as Fort Madison's hometown movie theater. Following restoration and modernization, the historic marquee and façade remain intact while the interior has been updated with digital projection and sound, allowing the nearly century-old theater to continue entertaining new generations of movie fans. 06-26

King Theatre
Belle Plaine, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

From the looks of things, the King Theatre may or may not still be showing movies.

The theater opened in 1930 after local entrepreneurs Milton and Sara Mansfield consolidated Belle Plaine's earlier movie houses into one modern venue. In addition to its 450-seat auditorium and stage, the building was designed with apartments on the upper floors, making it a true mixed-use downtown landmark.

For generations, the King Theatre has welcomed audiences through changing times, surviving the arrival of television, multiplexes, and home video while many other small-town theaters disappeared. The vintage marquee and storefront remain an important part of Belle Plaine's Main Street. 08-17

UPDATE: The King Theatre is still showing movies and has entered a new chapter under local ownership. Since 2023, the building has undergone an ongoing restoration that has upgraded the projection system while preserving the theater's historic character, ensuring this hometown movie house will continue entertaining audiences for years to come. 06-26

New Strand Theatre
West Liberty, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The New Strand Theatre (as opposed to the Old Strand) is located in a historic building in downtown West Liberty.

The building originally opened in 1910 as the West Liberty Opera House before motion pictures arrived in 1924. Like many opera houses of the era, it was designed to serve the entire community, hosting vaudeville performances, concerts, dances, meetings, and even sporting events before becoming a full-time movie theater.

More than a century later, the building continues to serve the same purpose it always has—bringing people together. The historic façade and marquee remain a familiar sight downtown, reminding visitors of a time when nearly every small town had its own neighborhood theater. 08-17

UPDATE: The New Strand Theatre remains open and continues to show movies while hosting community events. Recent fundraising efforts helped upgrade the theater's projection equipment, allowing this longtime hometown theater to continue entertaining audiences while preserving its historic character. 06-26

Fargo Theatre
Fargo, ND
Photo courtesy W.H. Kloubec/Heliostudio.com

The Fargo Theatre is one of the Upper Midwest's best-known movie palaces. Opened in 1926, its towering vertical marquee has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in downtown Fargo.

Originally built as a vaudeville house and movie theater, the Fargo Theatre was designed by architect Joseph E. Rosatti in the Art Deco style. Inside is one of its most treasured features—a 27-rank Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ that still rises from beneath the stage for special performances and silent film screenings. A major restoration completed in 1999 helped preserve the theater's historic character while preparing it for another generation of audiences.

Today, the glowing marquee remains as much a symbol of Fargo as the theater itself. Whether you're catching a movie, a concert, or the annual Fargo Film Festival, it's hard to walk down Broadway without looking up at those familiar neon letters. 08-17

UPDATE: The Fargo Theatre celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026 and continues to thrive as a nonprofit performing arts and cinema venue. The historic marquee, Art Deco interior, and Mighty Wurlitzer remain beautifully preserved, ensuring this downtown landmark continues entertaining audiences a century after it first opened. 06-26

Capitol Theatre
Burlington, IA
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This Deco light at the Capitol Theatre in Burlington looked like it could use a little restoration when this photo was taken.

The theater opened in 1937 as Burlington's first movie house designed specifically for sound films. Designed by the Iowa architectural firm of Wetherell & Harrison, it quickly became a downtown landmark with its Art Deco styling, neon marquee, and vertical tower sign welcoming moviegoers for generations.

Like many single-screen theaters, the Capitol eventually closed as audiences shifted to multiplexes. For years its marquee sat dark, leaving many to wonder if this downtown landmark would ever come back to life. 08-17

UPDATE: Fortunately, it did. Following an extensive restoration, the Capitol Theatre reopened in 2012 as a community performing arts venue. Today the beautifully restored Art Deco landmark once again hosts concerts, films, theatrical productions, and other events, proving that another classic downtown theater has been given a second act. 06-26

Washita Theatre
Chickasha, OK
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Located in Chickasha, the Washita Theatre still appeared to be open for business when this photo was taken. Check out the front façade of this classic theater.

The Washita opened in 1941 and was designed by noted theater architect Jack Corgan. Its rounded corner tower, porcelain enamel panels, and Art Deco styling made it one of the most distinctive buildings on Chickasha Avenue. For 60 years, it served as the community's hometown movie theater before showing its final film in 2001.

Fortunately, the story didn't end there. Rather than being lost, the theater found a new purpose while retaining the architectural features that made it a local landmark. 08-17

UPDATE: The Washita Theatre was restored and reopened in 2009 as the home of the Chickasha Community Theatre. Today the historic building hosts live plays, musicals, concerts, and other performances, ensuring that one of Chickasha's best-known landmarks continues entertaining audiences more than 80 years after it first opened. 06-26