This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Garden Theatre of Marion A Century of Change Opens 1914
The Garden Theatre in Marion began as the Orpheum in 1914 after Benjamin Umbreit sold his Marion theatre to B C Hall then to C W and E C Davis. Umbreit built a brick 40 by 120 foot hall, the Garden opened December 21 1914 with 925 seats. Over the years ownership shifted to Joseph Mulhern and Adams Theater Co. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids operators. The venue hosted community events and Armistice Day crowds before later renamings and remodels including a 1971 shift to X rated films and a 1980 renovation restoring a family friendly layout with 250 seats.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Garden Theatre
Linn County
Benjamin Umbreit
Orpheum Theatre
Marion
B.C. Hall
C.W
E.C. Davis
Umbreit
Arthur H. Kirkwood
The
Orpheum
Umbrell
Davises
10Th St
Umbrel
Joseph Mulhern
Marengo
Mulhern
Adams Theater Co
Des Moines
Marion Streets
Bourbon Street Enterprises
Marion Theater
Richard Davis
Wayne Engle
E&s Electric
Cedar Rapids
Garden Theater
Marion’s
Gazette Archives