The Englert Theatre, built by William Englert and his wife Etta, first opened in downtown Iowa City on September 26, 1912. It became the place to be for entertainment as students and other visitors flocked to inside to watched Vaudevilles and other shows.

That was until February 13, 1926, when disaster happened. Fire broke out and it nearly got the building destroyed. Despite the heavy financial loss, Etta Englert and James Hanlon, her new husband, had plans for rebuilding it.
The new Englert Theatre featured a new interior inspired by the 1920?s and it operated for decades as a joint venture. After a few years, in the 1970s and 1980s, under a different management, the Englert interior was modernized with the addition of gypsum board, paneling, carpeting, and acoustic ceilings.

In 1999, the aging building was about to be sold and turned into a bar. However, a group of citizens encouraged the City of Iowa City to purchase the theater to be held in a trust until enough funds could be raised. The ?Save the Englert? campaign began with the citizens who took action to achieve their goal of rebuilding the Englert to its magnificence as a community cultural center.

After the collective contribution and effort of local businesses and individuals, The Englert Theatre finally reopened for a live performance on December 3, 2004, after more than 60 years.