Five Flags Center

405 Main Street,
Dubuque, IA 52001

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Five Flags Center (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Orpheum Circuit, RKO

Architects: Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp

Firms: Liebenberg and Kaplan, Rapp & Rapp

Functions: Concerts, Live Performances

Styles: Beaux-Arts

Previous Names: Majestic Theatre, Bijou Theatre, Spensley Orpheum Theatre, RKO Orpheum Theatre, Five Flags Civic Center

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 563.589.4254

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Five Flags Center

First known as the Majestic Theatre, this theatre was modeled after the original Moulin Rouge in Paris. It opened on November 16, 1910 with a seating capacity for 1,400. From November 116, 1929 it operated as the Spensley Orpheum Theatre screening movies. It later became the RKO Orpheum Theatre. In 1956 it was remodeled to the plans of architectural firm Lieberman & Kaplan, with Seeman Kaplan supervising the work.

Today, it is known as the Five Flags Center and presents several types of entertainment, including nationally-known musicians, professional theater groups, and other live events.

Contributed by Mike Geater

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 5, 2007 at 11:10 pm

Here is one of the Library of Congress photos from Ed Wilke’s link. There are twelve if you happen across the site:
http://tinyurl.com/34er8t

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 6, 2007 at 1:25 am

Here’s another view from a different LOC page:
http://tinyurl.com/2uk89g

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on February 15, 2008 at 5:53 am

Here is another LOC photo, no date given:
http://tinyurl.com/2mrqwe

Gerald A. DeLuca
Gerald A. DeLuca on March 10, 2011 at 10:38 pm

The first all-talking movie, Lights of New York, began a run at the Majestic Theatre on August 5, 1928.
NEWSPAPER AD

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 4, 2011 at 1:18 am

Although the former Majestic Theater is part of the Five Flags Center, the theater itself is billed as the Five Flags Theater (move Street View closer and see the name on the windows.)

Encyclopedia Dubuque has pages for the Majestic Theatre, which features three interior photos, and for the Orpheum Theatre, which has a photo showing the facade.

The line in the introduction saying that the Majestic was modeled after the original Moulin Rouge in Paris doesn’t make sense, as this is what the original Moulin Rouge looked like.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on November 14, 2014 at 9:16 am

Side note: before being called the Moulin Rouge it was the Mistinguett Music Hall.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 27, 2018 at 2:14 am

Undated photo as the Majestic added via Robert Ungs.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 28, 2018 at 12:26 am

1910 image added via Gary Dieters‎.
Shows original cost at $125,000.00

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on September 30, 2023 at 9:12 am

This is not the only theater in Dubuque to have had the name Orpheum. The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory lists a house called the Orpheum at 336 Main Street.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 7, 2024 at 3:45 pm

The September 29, 1956 issue of Boxoffice has an article about extensive remodeling of the Orpheum at Dubuque being undertaken by new owners the World Theatre Company of Minneapolis. Plans for the $75,000 project had been prepared by Liebenberg & Kaplan. Seeman Kaplan would personally supervise the work.

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