HISTORY NEWS

EXETER -- Imagine the Ioka in its heyday… townspeople lining up to see the latest picture illuminated by the neon marquee boasting film legends of the time like Barrymore and Ayers. Picture such black and white images captured on film with a deep “movie trailer” voice narrating… “Winter or summer, time passes as quickly in Exeter as anywhere else. From the earliest days of the movies, there has been a picture theater in town…” This snapshot in time was discovered in a 1941 information reel about Exeter from the March of Time, a glimpse into the rich history of daily life in a quaint town; bygone memories perhaps, until now. (Continued below)

CLICK TO SEE March of Time 1941

Do you remember the Ioka? As the Exeter Theater company comes ever closer to securing the 1,000 members needed to lease the recently purchased Ioka under extremely favorable terms and begin the exciting renovation efforts to bring this historic theater back to life, we want to hear your stories of the Ioka from days gone by. 

Perhaps you remember the exhilaration of seeing your first “talkie,” the giggling joy watching those Little Rascals in their many adventures, being captivated by the drama and breathtaking color of “Gone with the Wind,” your first date (or kiss) in the balcony watching Annette and the Beach Blanket crowd singing in the sand, or the annual Halloween treks with your own children to see the ever popular “Wizard of Oz.” Perhaps you have an old ticket stub or program lovingly tucked away in an attic box? Wherever they may lie, we’d love to help uncover your Ioka stories!

As we continue on the exciting journey to breathe life into an old friend, we want to honor the history that has brought us this far as we usher the Ioka toward its bright new future together. Have a story you’d like to share? Call the Ioka memories chairperson, Kat Murphy, at 603-583-5588.  What’s your Ioka memory?