Last spring, it was announced that an iconic Des Moines theater would be making a comeback. Now, The Ingersoll is back and better than ever!
The Ingersoll’s History
Located at 3711 Ingersoll Ave in Des Moines, The Ingersoll Theater was built in 1939 and was one of the first in Iowa to be built specifically for films with sound. According to the website, the building had a total price tag of $35,000, which would equate to over $800,000 in 2026!
For many years, the Ingersoll thrived. But, by the 1970s, business had slowed down, which resulted in the theater’s closure in 1977. That wasn’t the end of the story, though. Just a couple of years later, The Ingersoll was transformed into a dinner theater, which gave the space a new life. The website reads:
“Throughout the 1980s and into the ’90s, it hosted beloved musicals, comedies, and tribute performances—all paired with meals in an intimate, cabaret-style setting.”…