Built out of an old 1914 German opera house, the Donna Reed Theater was dedicated back to the town by her third husband, Grover W. Asmus. Falling into disrepair, Asmus knew he wanted to give
Built out of an old 1914 German opera house, the Donna Reed Theater was dedicated back to the town by her third husband, Grover W. Asmus. Falling into disrepair, Asmus knew he wanted to give this stately structure a reason to keep existing rather than being torn down.
Back on Broadway
Living here for 17 years of her early life, Donna Reed was at one time an usher during various shows and plays that were put on by the talented artists in the community. Utilizing his wife’s celebrity status, Asmus was able to garner enough funds and support from life-long fans and renovate this historic building.
Once the location was established, her co-stars on The Donna Reed Show, Paul Peterson and Shelley Fabares, joined the efforts and became members of the board of directors for the theater. With big names backing the Donna Reed Foundation for Performing Arts, and eventually the museum, funding started to pour in from all over the U.S.
Currently closed to the public due to an unforeseen and unfortunate death of one of the main board members, the Donna Reed Museum and Theater are working to get themselves organized and focus on reopening. Personally, I’m hoping it’s up and running this summer, since I plan to make another trip to Denison so I can enjoy a pleasant walk through their two parks in town.
The best seat in the house
I was, however, able to walk into the theater and take pictures. In fact, right next door and located in the same building is a coffee shop which used to be a candy shop that also sold fountain soda. One of the employees allowed me access to the theater and even turned on all of the lobby and theater lights, illuminating the beautifully preserved architecture.
On display in the lobby are some of Donna Reeds letters she wrote to her lifelong pen-pal of 48 years, Violet Lindsay, whom she actually never met, but continuously stayed in contact with throughout her career. Unfortunately, the museum was closed off and I was unable to gain access, but inside are hundreds of memorabilia showcasing Reed’s illustrious career in moviemaking. One of those items is her Golden Globe she won in 1963 for being the best TV star that year.
Plan your visit
Looking out from the front window of the museum are pictures and movie posters of her most well-recognized films she starred in, along with a t-shirt, visitors are able to purchase and wear as a souvenir. Personally, this will be one of the things I look forward to when they reopen hopefully soon.
Overall, I learned a lot on my mini-tour so I can’t imagine what else there is to uncover once the museum and theater are open to the public again. Along with attending various plays and showtimes, curious visitors can also rent out the theater for their special events. whether you are planning a family reunion or a wedding, this location would be an affordable venue for any unique gatherings you may have in the near future.
For more information on the museum visit their website (https://www.donnareed.org/visit-the-museum) where you can read up on Donna Reed’s lifetime of career accomplishments. Here, you can also show your support for this organization since donations from loving fans and supporters help keep this iconic location going.
712-263-3334
1305 Broadway
Denison, Iowa 51442
