The ISIS theatre, located on 297 Main Street of Independence1, provided the small Oregonian town with a multi-purposed entertainment and community room. The earliest documentation found was around June 20th in 1913. The owner and main operator of this theater was Ross Nelson 2, a well-known Jersey Cattle salesman of this small town. Although the motive of the business switch is unknown, it became lucridive as many residents attended the playhouse as it was not only an entertainment space, but it was also a place of citizen gathering.
For example, on June 20th, a notice ran in the Independence Monitor detailing a Farmers’ Union Meeting on the 28th of June3. The notice details the events unfolding during the Union meeting, starting off with a lecture and ending with a musical performance. Besides being a landmark building and a communal meeting place, the theatre provided visual entertainment to Independence. Below is an advertisement for the “World’s Greatest Feature Civilization” on Wednesday, September 22nd in 19164. What is interesting about the newspaper clipping is the advertised price. “Prices same as in Portland” points to this idea that this film will provide a similar high-quality experience in this small-town theatre.
Other films that were shown and advertised included "Mothers of France"5 and "The Queen of Sheba"6 of which prices for admission ranged from fifteen to thirty-five cents, depending on the value of the film during the time.
Despite the advertised movie-going experience, this theater was used as a landmark and often was used as a relative landmark to point people in the correct place of other small businesses on the main street. Per example, in the Independence Monitor, there was an advertisement for a special twenty-five cent dinner7. The advertisement says, “Look for the Sign on Main Street next the Isis Theatre”. Many other advertisements like this for small businesses can be found, perhaps by the owner's permission.
Later in the 1930's, the small Isis theater faced a large renovation with the implementation of sound technology and 'talkies'! The first talking film to be hosted at the Isis was the film 'Paris' in the spring of 19308. This implementation of sound films was of much excitement to the townspeople--so much so that the theater's business grew enough to afford a complete face-lift with a remodeled lobby, new seating arrangements, and air-conditioning. Much of Mr. Nelson's changes was out of inspiration of what he had seen in other theaters along the Oregon coast9.
This theater maintained sound film for the town of Independence and steadily remained in business. Unfortunately, the Isis theater closed its doors to the public for good on January 18th of 1958.
![Independence [Polk Co.], Digital Sanborn Maps, May 1925 - May 1931 (Proquest, LLC, 2016)](/sites/default/files/styles/mt_testimonial_image/public/2020-03/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-12%20at%2011.49.35%20PM.png?itok=sRqZm-0F "Independence [Polk Co.], Digital Sanborn Maps, May 1925 - May 1931 (Proquest, LLC, 2016)")
