Iao Theater

Infobox_nrhp | name =Iao Theater
nrhp_type =

|200px
caption =
location= Wailuku, HI
lat_degrees =
long_degrees =
area =
built =1928
architect= Edward Walsh
architecture= Mission/Spanish Revival
added = February 09, 1995
governing_body = Local
refnum=94001622 cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Iao Theater is a Spanish Mission style theater opened in 1928, in the city of Wailuku, Maui Hawaii. It was originally both a movie and vaudeville house, until it fell into disrepair in the 1980s. Facing possible demolition, in 1994, it was listed on the State of Hawaii's Register of Historic Places. It was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It is currently the home of Maui OnStage, a community-based theatrical organization.

History

In December 1927, Manuel Paschoal and H. B. Weller broke ground for Iao Theater on Market Street. The theater was designed by Edward Walsh. After nearly 9 months and $40,000 in construction costs, Iao Theater opened on August 22, 1928. The theater opened with a local play featuring local actors, and the showing of Sporting Goods starring Richard Dix at night.cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=9255|title= Iao Theater rich in history|date=May 29, 2005|author=|publisher= Maui News] cite web|url=http://www.mauionstage.com/iaotheatre.htm|title= Iao Theater - A Brief History|year=2005|work=Maui OnStage|publisher=] Engebretson, George Exploring Historic Wailuku: Small Town Series Maui ISBN 0-93631154-3-X Pg. 50 ]

The theater was one of several theaters in Wailuku,Bartholomew, Gail & Bailey, Bren Maui Remembers A Local History ISBN 1-56647-070-6 Pg 128] Bartholomew, Gail & Bailey, Bren Maui Remembers A Local History ISBN 1-56647-070-6 Pg 131] and was named after a small bait fish named the "iao."Ref_label|A|a|none Aside from screening movies, the theater also hosted live onstage performances. Notable events included appearances by Bob Hope, Betty Hutton, and Frank Sinatra for USO shows during WWIIcite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=9255|title= Iao Theater rich in history|date=May 29, 2005|author=|publisher= Maui News] , plus showed such movies as "Rio Rita", and the X-rated film "Deep Throat" (which got the theater owner arrested).cite web|url=http://www.mauionstage.com/iaotheatre.htm|title= Iao Theater - A Brief History|year=2005|work=Maui OnStage|publisher=] In 1953, the Hawaii debut of "From Here to Eternity" was staged at the Iao.cite web|url=http://www.mauionstage.com/iaotheatre.htm|title= Iao Theater - A Brief History|year=2005|work=Maui OnStage|publisher=] A snack concession was run by Harry Kaya for almost 40 years, from 1930 to the mid-1970s, called Harry's Sweets. The location was just outside of the main theater entrance.Engebretson, George Exploring Historic Wailuku: Small Town Series Maui ISBN 0-93631154-3-X Pg. 50 ] Local Hawaiian music artists such as Keali’i Reichel and Amy Hanaialiʻi Gilliom also gathered experience at the Iao.cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=9255|title= Iao Theater rich in history|date=May 29, 2005|author=|publisher= Maui News]

By the early '80s, after the theater closed down, the threat of demolition loomed. Maui Community theater first occupied the theater in 1984 for $200 a monthcite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=9255|title= Iao Theater rich in history|date=May 29, 2005|author=|publisher= Maui News] , and community efforts commenced to help save the Iao from demolition. In July 1993, Maui County paid $882,000 to buy the one acre site and the theater itself from the Lyons family trust after plans to demolish or convert the theater for other purposes materializedRef_label|B|b|none and spent $1.8 million on a partial restoration.cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=18067|title= BACKSTAGE: Wailuku’s Iao Theater at the crossroad ? again|date=March 23, 2006|author=Jule Wind|publisher= Maui News] The Hawaii State Register of Historic Places lists the Iao as the oldest theater building in Hawai'i on June 24th, 1994. http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/hpd/register/regmaui.pdf HAWAI`I AND NATIONAL REGISTEROF HISTORIC PLACES - Maui] The Department of the Interior places the theater onto the National Register of Historic Places on February 9th, 1995.cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/HI/Maui/state.htm|title=National Register of Historical Places - HAWAII (HI), Maui County|date=|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher= www.nationalregisterofhistoricalplaces.com] [http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/hpd/register/regmaui.pdf HAWAI`I AND NATIONAL REGISTEROF HISTORIC PLACES - Maui] ]

Useage today

Currently, Maui Community Theater, doing business as Maui OnStage, uses the theater for various functions. cite web|url=http://www.mauionstage.com/|title= Maui OnStage - At the Historic Iao Theater|year=2005|work=Maui OnStage|publisher=] Redevelopment of the area also has included a 43 stall parking lot in the rear of the theater.cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=2336|title= 43 parking stalls being added near Iao Theater|date=October 19, 2004|author=|publisher= Maui News]

Gallery

Notes

*a. Note_label|A|a|none The book lists this reason, citing the theater was not named for Iao Valley. Engebretson, George Exploring Historic Wailuku: Small Town Series Maui ISBN 0-93631154-3-X Pg. 50 ]
*b. Note_label|B|b|none Maui News lists two contradicting plans in two separate articles; demolition to use the land for a shopping complex is referenced in one article cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=23305|title= Lease issue raises questions, no answers|date=September 15, 2006|author=Melissa Tanji|publisher= Maui News] wile an editorial lists conversion to offices as the reason that prompted Maui County to save the Iao Theater.cite web|url=http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=9255|title= Iao Theater rich in history|date=May 29, 2005|author=|publisher= Maui News]

References

External links

*http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/
*http://mauionstage.com/