Entry No. 36 — the Des Moines file — filed under: live-pig
Joy the Movie Theater Pig (Capitol II Theatre)
The Capitol II Theatre is a family-owned, two-screen movie house where Joy, a Guinness World Record-holding mini pig, greets visitors from her glass-doored lobby dressing room, wearing tiny outfits and performing piano tricks with her nose — the result of a real city council fight over Newton's no-pigs ordinance. The theater itself dates to 1927 and was saved from bankruptcy by the Bleeker family, who turned Joy into its unlikely star attraction.
The story
Most independent movie houses struggle against multiplex chains by offering craft beer or reclining seats. The Bleeker family took over Newton's ailing 1927 Capitol II Theatre—about 34 miles east of Des Moines—and went a different route: they brought in a mini pig named Joy. Because the family spent long hours revamping the two-screen cinema, Joy became a permanent fixture in the lobby, eventually taking up residence in a dedicated glass-doored room.
Her presence didn't go unnoticed by local authorities. Newton had a long-standing ordinance ban on swine within city limits, sparking a legitimate city council battle over whether a miniature pig belonged on Courthouse Square. The theater won, establishing Joy as the town's official 'American Mini Spokes-Pig' and turning a civic zoning dispute into the venue's main selling point.
Joy isn't just a sedentary mascot. Dressed in custom tiny outfits, she learned to play a mini piano by nudging the keys with her snout, ultimately securing an official Guinness World Record for her repertoire of pig tricks. Filmgoers frequently skip the polished suburban theaters in Des Moines specifically to buy popcorn from a vintage concession stand and watch a swine tickle the ivories before showtime.
What it's like
You'll spot the vintage 1927 marquee anchoring the east side of Newton's downtown square. Step inside the lobby and you'll find Joy's glass-fronted dressing room right near the concessions. Depending on her schedule, you might catch her sporting a tiny dress and nudging a toy piano with her nose. Keep in mind this is an operating two-screen cinema, not a petting zoo—you admire her through the glass. For the best chance of catching her active, arrive early for a Friday or Saturday evening screening before taking your popcorn upstairs to the balcony recliner seats.
The move: Catch an evening showing at the Capitol II, arrive early to meet Joy in her lobby dressing room and watch her perform piano tricks, then grab popcorn from the old-school concession stand and settle into the balcony recliner seats for the film.
📍 Before you go Newton sits about 34 miles east of Des Moines, a quick I-80 day trip. The Capitol II anchors the historic Courthouse Square downtown, on the east side of 1st Street North just past the Highway 6 intersection — watch for the vintage marquee. Free street and lot parking ring the square. Joy is a real animal living in her glass-fronted lobby room, so meeting her depends on the theater being open and her being out; weekend evenings are the safest bet, and since it's a working cinema, not a petting zoo, you admire her through the glass. Pair it with the Beaux-Arts Jasper County Courthouse, square-side shops, or the seasonal Valle Drive-In, Iowa's oldest, on Newton's west edge.
- 📍 Newton
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 116 1st St N, Newton, IA 50208
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Valle Drive-In — Double up on retro cinema by catching an afternoon matinee with Joy before driving two miles west to Iowa's oldest operating drive-in.
- Jasper County Historical Museum — Examine over 70 antique Maytag washing machines 1.5 miles away to understand the industrial town that fought over the theater pig.
- Big Aluminum Bugs — Drive less than two miles down the road to check out giant insects welded from scrap hog feeders before your movie.
Good to know
Can you pet or feed Joy the pig?
No. Joy resides behind a glass-fronted room in the lobby; visitors admire her through the glass to keep her routine comfortable and safe inside a working movie theater.
How did a pig end up in a movie theater?
When the Bleeker family bought the historic 1927 theater, they spent exhaustive hours renovating it and brought Joy along. After fighting a city ordinance against livestock in town limits, she became the house mascot.
What is Joy's Guinness World Record for?
Joy earned her Guinness World Record for her extensive trick routine, which includes playing piano keys using her snout while wearing custom outfits.
Where is the theater located relative to Des Moines?
The Capitol II Theatre is located about 34 miles east of Des Moines in downtown Newton, right on Courthouse Square off I-80.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Roadside America · guinnessworldrecords.com · Yelp · desmoinesregister.com · Official site · kcci.com
last checked: 2026-06-07