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Granada Theater

By Martin E. Nass

The Orpheum Theatre was renamed the Granada Theater in the mid-1920's. It was completely redecorated and remodeled but remained in the same building. The main floor seated 600 and the balcony held another 75 on each side. The name Granada came from the Spanish motif of the decorations. There was a sunken garden between the two sides of the balcony. The projection booth was at the rear of the balcony. After Jack Plant left the corporation, it was operated by Percy Long, who managed both theaters.. This theater was a first run theater, so the price of admission was higher than the Isis. The price was 25 cents.

The Granada held a weekly drawing where china was given away. Most evenings there were two showings. Between the two showings the lights would be turned on, and Mr. Long went up on the stage with a wire basket which held the ticket stubs for the evening. Someone from the audience would be invited to the stage to draw out the winning stub. The holder of the other half would win the dishes. In 1939 Mr. Long took over the management of the Pioneer theaters in Jefferson, Iowa and later the theaters in Perry, Iowa. At that time, Downard took over the management of the Webster (the former Granada) and Isis theaters.

During the war years Downard went into the service. Mr. Long returned to Webster City to resume the management of the Isis and Webster theaters. After World War II, Downard returned to Webster City. Since Long was the manager of the Webster City theaters Downard accepted an assignment for the management of a Pioneer theaters in Cherokee for a few years.

Mr. Long left the theater management business in about 1949 to take over the job as Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. He was one of three men to develop the name, "Webster City, Main Street USA," which we see today on the elevator downtown. At this time, Downard returned to Webster City to once again take over the management of the Webster City theaters.

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