Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 9, 2006

Work is coninuting on the restoration of the Princess Theatre in Mount Ayr and a new fund-raising effort has been started to sell bricks for the sidewalk area outside the theatre.

The building has been gutted and the marquee is being installed. A plan is now being put together for the layout of the inside of the theater, making it usable for both movies and live performances.

Lynn RINEHART recently accepted the risk of coordinating the restoration efforts. Ron LANDPHAIR has agreed to work with RINEHART and with Larry LAMB, who has donated countless hours on the project already.

Volunteers of any kind are welcome on the project with the immediate need for plumbers and electricians.

John ALLEN is working with the group to provide the needed electrical expertise for the building.

Fund-raising continues with the date for meeting the Dekko Foundation grant fast approaching. The Dekko Foundation will match up to $75,000 raised by the community in the form of cash donations. To date $71,212.78 has been donated, leaving $3,786.22 to reach the match by May 1.

The original estimate for the total project was approximately $250,000, leaving approximately $50,000 to $75,000 to be raised locally. The group also received a state of Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism grant to helpcomplete the project.

The theater seat fund-raiser has ended with the Princess Theatre Troupe now selling bricks. Each brick will be engraved with up to three lines at a cost of $75. These bricks will be used outside the theater in the sidewalk area.

Fund-raising chairperson Michell RICKER is heading up the brick sales effort.

Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2010

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, October 19, 2007

Bids received to date for completing the Princess Theater renovation indicated the total cost of the project will be higher than originally thought, it was announced this week. The total cost is expected to be $6,000 higher.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September , 2007, Pages 1 &16

When the first patrons step into the Princess Theatre when it is finished sometime in January, plans are to have a welcoming, magical space that captures the theater's past while appealing to all ages.

The committee working on the project wants to make the theater experience memorable. After all, there are plenty of cookie cutter theaters to go see movies.

The dual purpose of the Princess, however, as a movie theater and performance hall, is being thought of as plans for the interior of the theater were announced this week.

Right now the interior has been cleared out and framed in and once the heating, cooling and plumbing installations are completed, changes should be evident quickly.

Stepping into the theater lobby, patrons will step into a dramatic floor of ceramic tiles interspersed with glass tiles. The contrasting border will echo the colors of the main lobby area.

Tile was chose for ease of maintenance as well as lasting beauty. It also provides a transition from the brick exterior.

A medium-toned oak wood will be used for the millwork and trim and black counter tops will be used for both the ticket and concession areas.

An antique cooper-coloed tin ceiling will be used for the lobby area. The pattern will reflect the geometric shapes in the floor tiles as well as the curves found in the hanging fixture in the lobby.

The hanging fixture will be the centerpiece of the lobby. The color of the metal in the fixture will harmonize with the color of the tin ceiling. It is a tannery bronze in color with gold accents and will coordinate with the flush-mount ceiling light in the hallway and the sconce lighting on the theater walls.

A ticket booth and concession area will be part of the lobby area.

The entrance to the theater area is accessed through a hallway on the left side of the lobby. This area will be carpeted as well as the aisle of the theater and areas across both the front and back and the handicapped entrance/exit. The carpeting will be in the floral pattern.

The area under the seats will be the present cement floor, cleaned and sealed. It is hoped this will be possible both for cost considerations and easy maintenance.

The focal point of the theater will be the stage curtain, which will be a deep burgandy or red.

The theater seating will be black molded plastic with a cup holder and armrest that raises and lowers. The seat fabric will match the main curtain.

The walls will be finished according to acoustial requirements. The lower portion of the walls [Page 16] will be covered with a low-cut pile carpet. Oak trim will divide the lower part of the wall from the upper part, which will be covered with fire-resisitant pleated fabric in burgandy.

A black acoustical tile ceiling will complete the theater project.

There will be three sconce lights on each side of the theater as well as additional lights bordering the aisle and along the ramp aea in the front of the theater.P>Fund-raising continues for the project, which will have name plates on the seats for people who purchased them and bricks out front with the names of other donors.

A poster with the samples of the different types of materials and colors planned for the theater is on display at city hall in Mount Ayr.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2010

Princess 2011 Gala