Lake Theatre

Lake Theatre is a Clear Lake family tradition and a historic one-screen theatre. The building was originally the Clear Lake Opera House, built in 1890 by John Halvorson and S.J. Clausen. After a fire destroyed the opera house in 1935, the building was renovated a year later into a movie theater and has been open and running ever since. Betty and Gene Sherman, with help from their sons John and Bob, owned and operated Lake Theatre from 1976 to 2016. Aaron Donaldson and Erin Schieffer purchased the theatre in April 2016. The theatre is temporarily closed for fundraising and renovation efforts.

Originally the Lake Theatre was home to the Clear Lake Opera House. Built in 1890 by John Halvorson and S.J. Clausen, evidence of the opera house can still be seen written at the top of the building. In 1935, the opera house was destroyed by fire. The building was renovated a year later into a movie theater and has been open and running ever since. Betty and Gene Sherman, with help from their sons John and Bob, owned and operated Lake Theatre from 1976 to 2016. When Bob was in high school he was a projectionist at the theatre. After hearing rumors that the owners planned to sell the theatre, he ran home to ask his parents if they would buy it. After telling him no, they went down to Des Moines and came back as new owners of the theatre. 40 years later, Betty could still be found in the ticket booth right up to the day the theatre was sold. Aaron Donaldson and Erin Schieffer purchased the Lake Theatre in April 2016. Aaron, being a Clear Lake resident, had been looking for ways to become more involved in the community. The theatre is temporarily closed for fundraising and renovation efforts to upgrade, modernize, and preserve Lake Theatre.

A historic one-screen theatre offering great value and some of the best movie theatre popcorn, serving as a Clear Lake family tradition.

• 2D movie screenings

• 3D movie screenings

• Gift certificates

1. 1Lake Theatre – Everything's Better At The Lake |clearlaketheatre.com
2. 2About - Lake Theatre - Everything's Better At The LakeLake Theatre – Everything's Better At The Lakeclearlaketheatre.com
3. 3Lake Theaterwikidata.org