Meet The Men Behind The Ingersoll

Article courtesy of Justin Brady and IowaPodcast.com (scroll to the bottom of the page to watch the entire episode).

The drive down Ingersoll Avenue is a juxtaposition of new and trendy, but also rundown and gross. But this month, with the launch of The Ingersoll, that brand is finally behind us. Steve Peters, co-owner of The Ingersoll and CEO of VenuWorks, describes the process of saving the building and bringing back to life the iconic marquee. Peters says every inch of the building needed to be gutted and redone to save it. But Iowans have responded favorably, selling the venue out for every night in January. And the good news doesn’t stop there. Despite it being open for only a few weeks, 50% of the acts are from across the country. Musicians, actors, and touring groups are already getting in line, anxious to come and perform for Iowans.

The History of The Ingersoll

The Ingersoll Theatre in Des Moines is a classic example of a local landmark that refused to go away. It has had many iterations—from a high-tech “talkie” cinema to a beloved dinner theater, a brief stint as a nightclub, and now, its most recent rebirth as a modern cultural hub.

1. The “Sound Era” Origins (1939)

The theater was built in 1939 by A.H. Blank, a legendary figure in Iowa cinema history. At the time, it was a marvel of modern technology and design:

Built for Sound: It was one of the first theaters in Central Iowa designed specifically for “talkies” (films with sound) rather than being a converted silent film house.

Art Moderne Style: Designed by the firm Wetherell & Harrison (architects of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum), it featured a sleek, green-glazed brick facade and a neon-lit marquee that became an icon of the Ingersoll Avenue corridor.

The “Loveseats”: When it opened, the 600-seat auditorium famously featured two-person “loveseats” at the end of the rows, a unique touch for couples.

2. The Dinner Theater “Golden Age” (1979–2004)

As neighborhood cinemas declined in the 1970s, the venue was almost turned into an adult movie house. Local music director Charles (Chuck) Carnes stepped in to save it, transforming it into the Ingersoll Dinner Theatre in 1979.

For 25 years, it was a “night out” destination where the performers often pulled double duty as servers.

It became famous for staging classic musicals like Fiddler on the Roof and Grease, often outperforming national tours in local reviews.

3. Decay and the “Dark Years” (2004–2022)

After the dinner theater closed in 2004, the building struggled. It housed a few short-lived nightclubs and a Cuban restaurant, but by 2014, it sat vacant.

The building fell into severe disrepair; at one point, there were holes in the roof so large you could see the sky from the stage.

It was considered one of the most endangered historic buildings in the city.

4. The Grand Reopening (Present)

In 2022, developer Connor Delaney purchased the building for $550,000 to save it from demolition.

The Restoration: A $5 million renovation followed, restoring the iconic green facade and marquee, while modernizing the interior with a new mezzanine and state-of-the-art sound.

The Return: Partnering with VenuWorks, the theater officially reopened on New Year’s Eve 2025. It has returned to its roots as a dinner-and-a-show venue, hosting live music, comedy, cabaret and theatrical performances.