The Business

The Family

Hollywood has always proclaimed that “there’s no business like show business.”

One Hillsboro family would especially agree.

Jeff and Julie Eisentraut, along with their family, Cary, Madison, Alex and Bailey, moved to Hillsboro from Fort Madison, IA, in December, 2003, to take over and run the Orpheum Theatre.  “I’ve been in the theatre business practically my whole life,” Jeff said.  At just 11 years old, Jeff had his first job at a major theatre chain in Des Moines, IA, where his brother worked. And by 15, he was managing his first theatre. In fact, he even met his wife, Julie, in a theatre where she was working concessions.  “The theatre is really important to me,” Jeff said. “And it has been for all my life.”  The rest as they say, is history, and their life in the theatre business continued, as their family began to expand.

Theatre business had its ups and downs in Iowa and in 1997 Jeff closed his theatre and worked various jobs along the way, including managing his son Cary’s band for awhile.  But he longed to return to the theatre business, and when the opportunity arose here in Hillsboro, all the Eisentrauts took a field trip to the Orpheum.  “When Cary and I got to the middle of the steps upstairs to the balcony, we knew that this was the theatre,” Jeff said. The Eisentrauts took a family vote, and it was a unanimous decision to move.

Jeff and Julie have four children, Cary (and wife, Sami), who co-owns the Orpheum, Maddie, Alex, and Bailey,  who all help out in the operations of the family business.  “All the kids have different strengths,” Julie said.

“That’s the fun part,” Jeff said. “Everybody fits a role. Cary is the public relations man. He’s very friendly.  His wife, Sami is a tremendous addition to that, as well.  Maddie’s strength is in organization. She’s great in the physical operation of the theatre, in preparations and inventory. Alex used to follow me into the projection room and now she’s our genius at running the movies. Bailey is kind of our mascot, she’s very good at making friends and has been really important to us. She’s the only employee customers ask for by name.

It’s the essence of a family business.”

Julie is the marketing coordinator and, along with other projects, does all the newspaper advertising for the theatres.  Jeff keeps everything running smooth. “He’s the maintenance man we can’t do without!” adds Julie.  Cleaning is very important to Jeff, as he feels that no one should go to the theatre with popcorn on the floor. Everyone helps out to clean daily, and especially in between shows on weekend nights.

“It’s not just about the movie at our theatres,” Jeff said. “It’s about the experience. About quality. About having a great night out.”