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The Varsity Theater was opened to the public on December 25th 1938. The Varsity Cinema is located at 1207 25th Street, Des Moines, Iowa across the street from Howard.

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The building was built in 1917 and was originally used as a Coca-Cola bottling plant and had many other uses before finding it's home as a theater.

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Like most other theaters it opens thirty minutes before show time and does not allow outside food or drink. Most employees speak english and one speaks spanish. Make sure to bring your wallet and ticket confirmation. Some movie goers may want to bring a cozy blanket.

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The students here love the varsity. One junior Emma Wells told us that “It was very clean…I had so much fun and for the Barbie movie they even made their own Barbie box”.

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One of the best perks to this theater is that student tickets are only $9 compared to $12 general admission. If you were wanting to go with family, seniors and children also get in for $9. There is also a punch card for student where if you buy four tickets you get the fifth one free!

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It is accessible, they have captions as well as hearing accessibility devices, they have accessible seatings, an elevator, and handicap parking spots.

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They also offer an unexpected opportunity where you can rent out the theaters and other areas for an activity of your choice. The pricing is reasonable for a vendor. It is $200-$600 depending on time of day and which area or theater.

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This cinema features many “American independent films, international films, and prestige studio releases.” (The Varsity website). The most famous slogan is “Movies worth talking about” (The Varsity website), and that saying is a perfect fit. We interviewed a worker and asked him what makes this place special. He responded with “We have unique opportunities, unique programming, we have some fun stuff we try to do for these big events with props and costumes, we try to go above and beyond what other theaters would be doing” (Mike Dunham-LaGree). These movies are fun, engaging and memorable. You will get an experience here that is unique to The Varsity.

It is operated by the non-profit Des Moines Film which was founded to grow the film culture and history in Des Moines.

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They offer a fun Oscar party for the Oscars, with food and cocktails and they stream it live. They also do Midnights at 10, which is funky movies on Thursdays. Coming up in October they are showing horror films from the 50s and 60s. Mike Dunham-LaGree tells us that “… we are developing new ideas every day when it comes to things that will excite people.”
This really shows their goal of wanting the people of Drake and Des Moines to really explore the film industry.

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We really believe that this theater is an eye-opening and sensational opportunity for Drake students as well as the Des Moines area community and that if you have time to definitely make a trip to The Varsity for a showing.

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There is another movie opportunity for students that is completely free! It is located on the basement level of Olmstead. Sussman offers opportunities every Friday for a free movie in the theater. The free movie Friday also offers a free snack and drink for every movie. It normally starts at 8 pm and shows a variety of movies. It is something that many students look forward to and a great place to hang out with friends and relax after a long week of classes and studying.

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It has an elevator and multiple accessible handicap seating arrangements. We interviewed a first-year student here at Drake. Her name is Caroline and she uses a wheelchair to get around campus. She recently went to the free movie Friday and we asked her about her experience with the accessibility there. “It was actually very easy to get to Sussman theater, it’s in lower Olmstead and there’s an elevator right outside the main door…the people there were very welcoming and kind… I was able to just slide right in!” (Caroline Hill). As you can see Caroline had a fairly good experience at Sussman and its safe to say that they can accommodate for certain disabilities.

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Caroline Hill
Chris Mogle
Emma Wells
Mike Dunham-Lagree
“About Us.” The Varsity Cinema, varsitydesmoines.com/about/. Accessed 9 Sept. 2023.