Windsor Theatre Pushes for Hamilton

Windsor Theatre Manager Jim Davies is looking for help from the community: he wants to be able to show Hamilton at the theatre, but he’s been told it won’t be happening. Now, he’s asking for the team at Disney to reconsider their decision.

Davies said it sounds like only the larger theaters will get to show Hamilton, and he doesn’t think that’s fair.

“I understand they have a business to run, but the people in our community want this, so I’m pushing for it,” said Davies. “I want them to realize we’re not some big-city megaplex. To me, we’re a good fit for the movie. It makes sense to show Hamilton in a historic theatre like ours.”

Davies has posted a letter to the decision-makers at Disney on his personal Facebook, as well as the theater’s page, in hopes that the right person sees it.

"Help us get the word out!" he said.

More about the Windsor Theatre

In 1912, construction began on the Windsor Theatre building. This modern, splendidly constructed and handsome opera house was to be used for vaudeville acts and road shows as well as a meeting lodge. This building was made possible by members of the Windsor Lodge Number Seventy One of the Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias. A stock company called “The Windsor Company” was incorporated and sold shares to any purchaser who desired to become identified with the improvement. The Windsor building was finished in 1913 and was one of the finest structures in the city of Hampton at that time.

The first play, “A Modern Eve” by Mort H. Singer, was performed at the Windsor on April 24, 1913.

The first movie, “A Romance of the Redwoods” starring Mary Pickford was shown on October 18, 1917.

The Windsor Theatre closed in May, 1996 due to lack of attendance, movie selections, poor heating and cooling, and lack of community support. Factors leading to the decline of Main Street Theatres include television, shopping malls with numerous screens, cable TV, satellite dish, and video rental.

In November, 1996 a Hampton-Dumont High School class for youth leadership and community development, sponsored by Iowa State University Extension and the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce proposed the idea of reopening the Windsor Theatre. Twenty students and thirteen adults meet together for two sessions. Through the efforts of the students and their fact finding mission, a group of community leaders was assembled to look at the feasibility of reopening the theatre. The non-profit Windsor Theatre Development Corporation was incorporated under Chapter 504A of the Code of Iowa on August 5, 1998.

The Windsor building and inventory was purchased in December of 1998 for $115,000 by the Windsor Theatre Development Corporation, a non-profit organization made up of adults and students in the community interested in re-opening the theatre. $138,000 of building improvements are to be added including new restrooms, new furnaces and air conditioners. The lobby and concession area was completely remodeled from top to bottom including a new chandelier, new carpeting, and a new popcorn machine. The original lobby doors into the auditorium were refinished. On May 29, 1999, the first movie was shown in the newly remodeled Windsor Theatre.

The Hampton Double Square Historic District, which includes the Windsor Theatre, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 2003.

The Internal Revenue Service confirmed on October 7, 2003 that the Windsor Theatre Development Corporation is exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Code.