Old Creamery Theater: Iowa Time Machine October 24, 1971

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On October 24, 1971, the Old Creamery Theater was first mentioned in an Iowa newspaper, signaling the beginning of what would become one of the state’s oldest professional theater companies. The reference marked a significant moment not just for the theater group, but also for Iowa’s burgeoning rural arts movement, demonstrating that quality live performance could be cultivated outside of urban centers.

Founded by a small group of young theater enthusiasts, the Old Creamery Theater set up shop in an actual former dairy creamery building in the town of Garrison, in eastern Iowa. Their vision was to create a space where creative energy and community engagement converged. Through the early 1970s, the company offered an eclectic mix of plays, children’s programs, and cultural events, drawing local audiences as well as visitors from across the region. The Old Creamery’s setting in the former agricultural depot gave its productions a distinctive, grassroots flavor and helped the troupe foster a unique identity rooted in Iowa’s rural landscape. 

The company quickly built a reputation for professional standards, despite its humble surroundings, and slowly became known as a rural arts incubator. The theater group’s presence injected new vitality into Garrison and the surrounding area, inspiring similar rural theater initiatives throughout Iowa. Their focus on accessibility meant ticket prices were modest, shows ran year-round, and programs often included workshops that encouraged local participation.  

Within several years of its founding, the Old Creamery Theater outgrew its original home and began to tour rural communities across Iowa. This expansion allowed it to reach audiences who had little access to professional theater and further solidified its role as a pioneer of Midwestern performing arts. By the late 1970s and 1980s, the group was staging acclaimed productions and hosting workshops that attracted aspiring actors from throughout the Midwest. #Iowa #History #OTD #Theater #Play