Ironwood Bow

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Lore & Background

Constructed in 1928, the theatre was one of three movie houses in Ironwood at the time, presenting first run films and vaudeville shows. The first feature film shown was Wings (1927), starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, and Gary Cooper. The theatre continued as a movie and vaudeville house under the direction of A.L. Pikar through the Golden Age of Hollywood of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s—the theatre flourished during these decades. Experiencing extreme financial difficulties in the late 70s, the theatre closed its doors in the spring of 1982. In 1982, owner Thomas Renn gave the Ironwood Theatre to the City of Ironwood through the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority (DIDA). The theatre reopened in 1988 as a non-profit cultural organization featuring a wide range of programming. In 2010, the City of Ironwood purchased the adjacent Seaman building, which it renamed the City Centre. The purchase provided the theatre with 'the concourse and additional space for an elevator, new restrooms, offices and even a catering kitchen.' The City of Ironwood is developing plans to install handicapped bathroom facilities at the theatre.

In Their Own Story

The theatre was designed by self-taught Ironwood architect Albert Nelson, and was constructed in 1928 at a cost of $160,000 (the equivalent of approximately $2 million today). The architecture was modeled after the Italian Renaissance style featuring hand-sculpted faux pillars and arched proscenium style stage. The building seated 1,000 when it opened, with 600 seats on the main floor and 400 seats on the balcony level. Due to many restoration efforts and improvements of the theatre's design, many seats were removed to accommodate for added luxuries including a handicapped accessible area, light & sound booth, and concession stand. The theatre now seats 732—480 seats on the main floor and 252 seats in the balcony. The chairs found in the theatre today are exact replica replacements of the seats originally installed.

Reader's Guide

The Barton organ, nicknamed 'The Grand Old Lady', remains in place on its pedestal where it was installed in 1928. The historic theatre organ is a 2-manual, 7-rank, 499-pipe organ that is still completely playable. Restoration efforts on the organ began in 2000 under the direction of Dr. Tom Peacock. Volunteers were taught by experts on inspection and repair of the console, pipes, valves, and wiring. Virtually all organ components were inspected and cleaned, with replacements of all leather materials, which were in dire need of replacement. Much of the wire running from the switchboard to the console was replaced as required by electrical code—this included over 700 solder connections on the back of the console. After countless hours of volunteer work and thousands of dollars from grants and donations, the Barton Organ console returned from the Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restoration company in June 2010, completing the restoration of the infamous organ console. The instrument is now completely playable. It was announced on Saturday, September 18, 2010, that the American Theatre Organ Society would like to open a chapter in Ironwood, Michigan. Plans to establish an Upper Peninsula chapter involve theatres across northern Michigan. Of the roughly 250 pipe organs built by the Barton Organ Company, the Ironwood Theatre Barton is one of an estimated 40 that are still in their original homes, and is one of only six documented Bartons that are still playable. As of 2010, the Ironwood Theatre Organ is the most recently restored Barton.

Did You Know?

• The first feature film shown at the theatre was Wings (1927), starring Clara Bow, Charles Rogers, Richard Arlen, and Gary Cooper.
• The theatre was designed by self-taught Ironwood architect Albert Nelson and constructed in 1928 at a cost of $160,000.
• The Barton organ has 499 pipes and is one of only six documented Barton organs that are still playable.
• The proscenium mural, painted by artist William Hasenberg in 1927, was thought destroyed by a 1973 repainting but was successfully restored in 1994 by muralist David Strickland.
• On September 18, 2010, the American Theatre Organ Society announced plans to open a chapter in Ironwood, Michigan.