Englert Family Englert Theatre

a river view of englert relative s year-around replica home on site , etta chopek englert s summer cottage on brighton beach along iowa river across city park.



smoke billows roof , wall of englert theatre during 1926 firemen spray roof of adjoining parks transfer building (later pla-mor bowling).



the spacious interior of englert relative s private home on englert s brighton beach site.



will , etta chopek englert sister emma chopek unrath (left) pose during picnic under rock outcrop 1909. photo family archive of grandniece carol chopek seydel.

a 1926 fire destroyed original interior of englert, determined remarried englert widow, etta chopek englert hanlon rebuilt.

the reconstruction cost $125,000, equal $1.6 million in 2012 dollars. among other design alterations, eliminated 8 box seating areas, each 6 seats, hanging side walls. had been considered fire traps while under construction during 1912.

will englert had died in 1920 nervous breakdown , cerebral hemorrhage (stroke) in bedroom of home in englert theatre building. englert management briefly province of william m. mckenzie.

a year after first husband s death, etta englert remarried @ age 38 barber james j. hanlon, shop beside ticket booth @ street level of englert building, spot occupied englert candy nook, moved theater lobby. englert management etta , new husband followed.

during portion of 1930s great depression years, hanlon managed local falstaff beer distributorship. earlier had owned , operated iowa city fruit co. etta chopek englert hanlon died @ age 69 in 1952, shortly after death of second husband. bore no children either marriage.

for movie screenings, englert succeeded improvised store-front movie houses in iowa city adapted on flat floors such names dreamland, nickledom, american, , bijou. first, dreamland, had been opened during 1906 @ 111 south dubuque street, south of jefferson building, fred racine, became known later became 4 cigar stores pool tables , ornate soda fountains. bijou name used student activities board screening old titles in university s iowa memorial union during academic year.

the original film showing in iowa city, however, not in building, tent pitched in dubuque street show 12-minute-long 1903 flick great train robbery (film). admission cost dime, or $2.50 in 2012 dollars.

the englert remained local commercial movie house until 1999, although damaged more decade earlier division 2 auditoriums. building offered sale, , purchased known local bar owner possible use night club.

a public drive save englert project resulted. sufficient funding raised , arranged, reconstruction restored englert original configuration single auditorium , condition operates in today.