The Last Picture House, a boutique cinema and cocktail lounge at 325 E. Second St. in Davenport, is getting ready for its first show in its 8,700-square-foot renovated downtown building.
The new two-screen movie theater, which was founded by filmmakers and Bettendorf natives Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, is scheduled to open today (Nov. 20) with the movie “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” according to The Last Picture House website.
The Monday events are being called a ‘“soft opening,” with plans for a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Dec. 9, according to a news release. Details on that opening will be released at a later date.
Even with the “Hunger Games” movie getting ready to open the startup business, construction work continued on The Last Picture House. A work crew was getting jobs done inside and outside the business as of late this morning.
“We’re thrilled to bring a theater to downtown Davenport that is inspired by our favorite cinemas around the world,” co-owner and filmmaker Mr. Woods in the release.
“The ownership team, also including Pete Stopulos, Jens Baker, Julia Glausi and Christy Beck, has spent years orchestrating a creative space to host special industry guests, showcase movie art and props, enjoy rooftop screenings along the Mississippi, and curate unique events that guests would usually only experience in global entertainment meccas.”
The Last Picture House will present an art-deco inspired movie-going experience that has been designed and crafted for film lovers of all ages and tastes. The cinema is home to two state-of-the-art studios, a cocktail lounge, a collection of rare film art and props, and a seasonal rooftop bar and outdoor screening space that overlooks the historic Government Bridge, Mississippi River, and downtown Davenport’s Motor Row District.
Work to renovate the downtown building into The Last Picture House began this spring. The project was awarded a Destination Iowa grant for $600,000 to support the $3.7 million project. Destination Iowa is a federally-funded state grant program geared toward projects promoting destination-building and tourism.
“Bryan Woods and I have always dreamed of opening a world-class movie theater in our hometown. We’ve designed The Last Picture House to be a cinematic oasis in the Midwest that caters to cinephiles, casual-goers, and families alike,” co-owner Mr. Beck said in the release.
Mr. Stopulos added: “This is beyond a passion project for me. It’s a tribute to my grandfather, Jim Stopulos, who created unique cinematic experiences in the Quad Cities area for nearly 25 years.”
Some of the movies scheduled to show at The Last Picture House this week include: “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” “The Last Dragon,” “Last Action Hero,” “The Last Detail,” “The Last Duel,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and, of course, “The Last Picture Show.”
More information regarding showtimes, operating hours, special events and rentals can be found at www.lastpicturehouse.com.
Iowa natives Mr. Beck and Mr. Woods are best known as the writers and creators of “A Quiet Place,” starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski, which grossed over $340 million worldwide.
