Movie theatre of Oelwein

The Paramount Theatre was owned for years by Central States Theatres of Des Moines Iowa. In 1975 some kids were playing with fire behind the hardware store next to the theatre and it set the store on fire. The Oelwein Fire Department answered the call and put out the blaze. What wasn't known was that the fire had gotten into The Paramount through a hole in the fire wall. The Paramount was destroyed by the blaze and several firefighters were injured. Peterson Theatres of Waverly Iowa purchased th...

The Paramount Theatre was owned for years by Central States Theatres of Des Moines Iowa. In 1975 some kids were playing with fire behind the hardware store next to the theatre and it set the store on fire. The Oelwein Fire Department answered the call and put out the blaze. What wasn't known was that the fire had gotten into The Paramount through a hole in the fire wall. The Paramount was destroyed by the blaze and several firefighters were injured. Peterson Theatres of Waverly Iowa purchased the Paramount and completly renovated it into a 360 seat theatre and renaming it The Capri. It reopened on Christmas Day 1975. In 1980 or so The Capri was twined into two 175 seat auditoriums. In 1986 The Capri was sold to Friedley Theatres and renamed The Paramount. Soon afterwords Friedley purchased