Welcome to the Ideal Theater!
It is our pleasure to provide affordable, current movies as well as classics and special events. Stop by our newly renovated, historic theater where you’ll experience the warmth and nostalgia of a1930 movie theater alongside modern comforts and accessibility. We look forward to seeing you!
A brief history
The Ideal Theater in the heart of downtown Clare, Michigan, was built in 1930 by John Asline. Asline owned the Princess Theatre just two doors to the south, but the crowds outgrew it, and with the advent of talking pictures, Clare needed a theater with state-of-the-art sound and projection systems. Located directly across the street from the historic Doherty Hotel, the Ideal opened its doors in August 1930, and has been a vital part of Clare’s historic downtown for almost a century. The theater changed hands several times over the years, and was most recently purchased in 2021 after it had been closed for a year due to the pandemic. Massive renovations ensued, and the theater reopened for business in March, 2023.
Historic Photo Gallery (1920’s – 1970’s)
