Historic movie palaces / Downtown Clare
Ideal Theater
Downtown Clare's Art Deco movie house since 1930, with a neon marquee on McEwan Street: current films, classics and live comedy nights in a heavily renovated house reopened in 2023.
Ideal Theater · Photo from the venue’s official website
Quick facts
- Opened
- 1930
- Style
- Art Deco.
- Seats
- 450
- Screens
- 1
What makes it special: Neon marquee; big-screen advertising; event rentals.
01 / Now showing
Now showing
Nothing on our calendar from this venue right now. Its full, current lineup is on its own site.
Full lineup on the venue’s site ↗02 / The story of this place
Make time for these
John Asline, who owned the Princess Theatre two doors south, built the Ideal in 1930 to give Clare a house equipped for talking pictures, and it opened in August 1930 across from the historic Doherty Hotel. Its neon marquee is a landmark on McEwan Street. After a year closed during the pandemic it was sold in 2021, heavily renovated and reopened in March 2023. Current films, classics and special events such as live comedy nights share the calendar, with Andy Beningo and Des Mulrooney on stage on September 29, 2026.
- Neon marquee on McEwan Street
- Built for talking pictures in 1930
- Current films, classics and comedy nights
Plan your visit
The theater is at 607 N McEwan St. in downtown Clare, across from the Doherty Hotel. Check idealtheatre.com for showtimes, or call (989) 386-9968 about questions or rentals.
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Downtown Charlotte's movie house since 1931: a big square marquee and vertical sign, two screens, first-run films and Rocky Horror nights with a live shadow cast, supported by donations.
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