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Visit Other Kansas Historical Theatres

Anthony Theater

Anthony, KS
220 W. Main Street
Anthony, KS 67003 United States
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The Anthony Theater opened on November 23, 1936. This Art Deco style theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1991 as building #91000464.   The Anthony Theater is closed and being renovated.

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Augusta Historic Theatre

Augusta, KS
523 State Street
Augusta, KS 67010 United States
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316.775.3661
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The Augusta Theatre opened on June 19, 1935 with seating provided for 683. This Art Deco style movie palace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It is very easy to find and more than worth the short drive from Wichita, Derby, Rose Hill, Andover, Leon, Towanda, Benton, or other parts of Kansas.

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Blair Theatre

Belleville, KS
1310 19th Street
Belleville, KS 66935 United States
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785.527.2683
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The Blair Theatre opened in 1928 with 720 seats. Located in downtown Belleville, it was granted a $200,000 tax credit by the state of Kansas in 2000 towards the conversion and renovation of the former movie house into a cultural and community center. The Spanish Colonial style facade with its polychrome terra-cotta and red brickwork is notable for its vintage marquee and vertical sign.

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Booth Theatre

Independence, KS
119 W. Myrtle Street
Independence, KS 67301 United States
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The Booth Theatre in Independence, Kansas opened 1927 as the only theatre in Independence to be designed specifically to show motion pictures. It was owned by Thomas Booth and designed by the Boller Brothers architecture firm. With seating of 1,100, the Booth opened to a standing room only crowd.

It offered a variety of arts, news, and entertainment as well as its main movie feature. The interior was worth the price of a ticket; and as Mr. Rothafel of Roxy theatre fame once stated, "We sell tickets to the theatre, not the movies".

The Booth Theatre was in operation until April 20, 1980. A church congregation purchased the theatre and used it for services until 1987. The Booth Theatre Foundation was established in 1991 for the purpose of preserving, restoring and operating the theatre as a performing arts and motion picture playhouse.

As a contributing community member, the theatre will be host to community theatre, recitals, seminars and classic film series. The Booth Theatre was listed on the national register of Historic Places on October 13, 1988.

Reconstruction began in 2007 and is currently underway on the renovation of the first front quarter section of the theatre.

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Also known as Brown Grand Opera House

Brown Grand Theatre

Concordia, KS
310 W. Sixth Street
Concordia, KS 66901 United States
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785.243.2553
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Exterior of the Brown Grand Theatre, as seen in this period photograph
Photo courtesy of Paul Salley

The Brown Grand Theatre is located at the west end of downtown Concordia. The restored landmark was built by Napoleon Bonaparte Brown, in 1906, for a mere $40,000.

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Burford Theatre

Arkansas City, KS
116 S. Summit
Arkansas City, KS 67005 United States
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For information contact dac@arkcity.com

One a grand theatre, the Burford became the product of changing times and changing theatre chains. It has been donated to the Arkansas City Area Arts Council for use as a center for the arts for the community. They are now restoring and renovating the property. Much of the early decor is still intact.

The theatre was built in 1924 in a l-shaped building in the center of downtown Arkansas City. Shortly after its opening, a commercial building was erected in the lot in front of the auditorium. The renovation-restoration was begun in late fall 2004. A web site is planned and will be in place in late spring, 2005.

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Also known as Colonial Theatre, Junction City Opera House

CL Hoover Opera House

Junction City, KS
611 N. Washington Street
Junction City, KS 66441 United States
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785.238.2885
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The Opera House opened in January 1882.  The stately red brick structure, with a tall four-faced clock tower, was a bustling site for community gatherings. In January 1898, almost 16 years after the day it opened its doors, the Opera House was ravaged by a disastrous fire.

Despite this tragedy, the Opera House was renovated and operated successfully for decades, in a wide diversity of uses, including showing movies as the Colonial Theatre. In 1982, the theater closed its doors. 

After a 26 year hiatus, the former Junction City Opera House re-opened to the public on October 3, 2008. Historically the building has been used as an Opera House, a warehouse, a movie theatre, and once again today as a state of the art performing arts center.
In 2003 the Opera House was placed on the state register of historic places and plans were put in place to begin the renovation of this cultural treasure. Construction on the renovation begin in earnest in 2007 until the project was completed and once again returned to the people of Junction City as a vibrant and productive cultural landmark.

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Doric Theater

Elkhart, KS
Elkhart, KS, United States
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Recent view of the Doric Theater
Photo courtesy of Paul Salley

The Doric Theater was built for live stage performances and silent movies in 1918. Put to a variety of uses, restoration was completed by the new owners. The Morton County Community Theater Group, a non-profit organization organized in 1997, a talented High Plains thespians' group that provides the only live civic theater within a 100-mile radius of Elkhart. With assistance from a variety of sources the new owners hope to breathe new life into the building, a former landmark on Elkhart's main street.

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Also known as Mainstreet Theater, New Dream Theater

Dream Theater

Russell, KS
629 N. Main Street
Russell, KS 67665 United States
(map)
785.445.1949
A recent view of the Dream Cinemas' classic art deco facade and ethereal marquee
Photo courtesy of Joel Weide
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The Dream Theater in Russell, Kansas was originally opened in 1923 as The Mainstreet Theater. In 1935 it was renovated and renamed the Dream Theater with a seating capacity given as 590. In 1947, fire destroyed the old movie house.

Two years later, the New Dream Theater with a seating capacity of 425 was opened on the same site. For the next 51 years, the Dream Theater was just that -- a majestic, Art Deco style single screen movie house delighting local audiences. The Dream Theater survived into the next century, but was finally closed in May 2000 by B&B Theatres.

As soon it closed, the Keep The Dream Alive Committee spurred into action, paid the $6,000 back taxes, and raised an additional $20,000 to reopen the cinema.

Now run by a volunteer staff and open only on the weekends, the Dream Theater is alive again.

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Dunbar Theatre

Wichita, KS
1007 North Cleveland Avenue
Wichita, KS 67214 United States
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The Dunbar Theatre, designed by architect Raymond M. Harmon, opened on August 15, 1941. This theatre was built for African Americans. It was named after Paul Laurence Dunbar, an African American poet. The Dunbar Theatre closed in the late 1950's. The building still stands but is vacant.

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Fox Theatre

Hutchinson, KS
18 E. First Street
Hutchinson, KS 67501 United States
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620.663.5861
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Recent exterior and marquee view of Hutchinson's Fox Theater
Photo courtesy of Bob Meza

The Fox Theatre was built in 1931 and the architect was Robert O. Boller of the Boller Brothers firm in KC., Mo. and following a restoration reopened in 1999.  Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1989 

Fox Theater (added 1989 - Building - #89001391)
18 E. First, Hutchinson
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Boller Brothers, Et al.
Architectural Style: Art Deco
Area of Significance: Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Auditorium

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Also known as Fox Granada

Granada Theatre

Emporia, KS
807 Commercial Street
Emporia, KS 66801 United States
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620.342.3342
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The Granada Theatre is on the National Register of Historic Places since April 1985, based on the facade of the theatre. It first opened on October 3, 1929, with a seating capacity of 1,400 and closed in 1982.

Facing demolition, a group of Emporia businessmen saved the theatre in 1994. Since 1994, the facade has been restored. The Fox marquee which was on the building when the theatre closed has been replaced by a replica of the original Granada marquee.

A three-year capital campaign was completed in December 2003. The campaign was for $2.6 million for the renovation and restoration of the interior of the theatre. The goal of the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance is to make the theatre a multi-purpose facility for the use of the arts, businesses, and all...

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Also known as Chief Theater

Gregg Theater

Sedan, KS
116 S. Chautauqua Street
Sedan, KS 67361 United States
(map)
620.725.5403

The Gregg Theater in its majestic appearance, opened in 1938. The premiere showing of "Four's a Crowd", with Errol Flynn, ushered the grand opening. Since then it has continued to be a source of entertainment for the area.

The theatre features projectors that are over 70 years old, with some minor retro fitting, still keep the reels turning. The projectors used are Brenkert BX-40s. Though these projectors continue to run, the transition to digital cinema will likely retire the antique projectors.

A group named the Sedan Theatre Group (Howard County Players) come together to perform plays that are held on the built-in stage in the single auditorium theatre during the year, providing a cast can be assembled. All work done at this theatre is done by volunteers, in a town of under 1,300.

In 2009, the theatre was given a minor update to the snack bar by the fundraising of a local school organization and fundraising from the community.  Stop by the theatre during weekends for the 8pm showings.

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Jayhawk State Theatre of Kansas

Topeka, KS
720 S.W. Jackson Street
Topeka, KS 66601-1996 United States
(map)
785.233.4295
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View of the theatre in 1926
Photo courtesy of Jayhawk Theatre

In 1926, the Jayhawk Theatre opened as a movie and vaudeville palace. But after fifty years of showing films, the Jayhawk Theatre closed in 1976 and appeared to be gone for good. The Hotel Jayhawk, part of the entire complex, also closed shortly after the theater and was converted into the Jayhawk Tower office complex in 1982.

The Jayhawk Theatre was closed off from the office building and sat dormant for over a decade. In 1992, amid movements to demolish the theater and the entire building, preservationists sought a solution to block the planned destruction.

After forming a strong coalition in the private sector to save the Jayhawk, the Kansas State Legislature designated the Jayhawk as the official State Theatre of Kansas in 1993. Since that time, the theater has been undergoing renovations in preparations for its rebirth as a performing arts venue for Topeka.

The Jayhawk Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

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Also known as Mead Theatre

Kingman Theatre

Kingman, KS
237 N. Main Street
Kingman, KS 67068 United States
(map)
620.532.1253

Exterior view of the Kingman Theatre
Photo courtesy of Paul Salley

This Kingman Theatre was built by Mr. S. F. Mead and his son, Frank, as a new opera house for the community of Kingman. The structure became an instant landmark, as well as a distinctive ornament for the community, especially with its night lights.

The seating capacity of the original house was 700, with standing room for approximately 100 more. The standing room also gave the patrons the convenience of moving around without missing any of the show being presented.

Built at a cost of $40,000 at the time of its grand opening in July 1920, this theater has remained true to the original intentions of its creators: to offer the community first class performing arts.

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Also known as Empire Theatre, Mac Theatre

McPherson Opera House

McPherson, KS
219 S. Main Street
McPherson, KS 67460 United States
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620.241.1952
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Originally constructed in 1888 as a live performance venue, the McPherson Opera House was converted to a movie theater in 1929 and served as such until March 1965.

In 1986 the McPherson Opera House Preservation Company was formed to save the Opera House from destruction. In January 2010, after a $8,000,000 rehabilitation, the auditorium reopened showing both movies and live performances.

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Contributed by Paul Salley
Also known as New Tackett Theatre

Midland Theater

Coffeyville, KS
212 W. 8th Street
Coffeyville, KS 67337 United States
(map)
316.251.0280
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Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2005
Midland Theater (added 2005 - Building - #05000007)
Also known as New Tackett Theater
212-214 W. 8th St., Coffeyville
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Henderson, Clare A.
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture   Current Sub-function: Theater
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture

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Orpheum Theatre

Wichita, KS
200 N. Broadway
Wichita, KS 67202 United States
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316.263.0884
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The Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas represents one of the finest remaining examples of Atmospheric school of theatre architecture which was developed during the first part of the 1900's. Although the theatre is under restoration it remains open and hosts a variety of events such as stage shows, movies, comedy shows and concerts.

The architect for the Orpheum Theatre, John Eberson, was the creator of the Atmospheric school. In his book, "The Picture Palace", Dennis Sharp has classified the Orpheum's style as "pre-Atmospheric". However, further research indicates that the Wichita structure is in fact an authentic Atmospheric style with all the accoutrements associated with the style. Opening on September 4, 1922 with vaudeville, and the movie "The Three-Must-Get-Theres" starring Max Linder, it was the first Atmospheric style theatre in the United States. The Majestic Theatre in Houston, Texas was the second. The original seating capacity was for 1,700.

The Orpheum Theatre was originally conceived by a group of local investors and when construction completed it was leased to Carl Hobitzelle, the operator of a $6,000,000.00 theatre chain. The initial construction cost of the theatre was $750,000.00. Opening on Labor Day, 1922, it was an integral part of the famous "Orpheum Circuit" and in its heyday virtually every major star of vaudeville graced its stage, including such luminaries as Eddie Cantor and Fannie Brice. During its vaudeville period, more than 17,000 acts appeared with the playbill changing three times each week. On the stage in the fly-out hangs the theatre's original fire curtain. It is a hand executed painting on asbestos, designed specifically for the Orpheum Theatre by John Eberson and rendered by Fabric Studio of Chicago. This curtain is quite valuable in its own right.

The Orpheum Theatre has significant associations nationally and internationally with the development of a whole new concept and style of theatre architecture. The Orpheum Theatre was closed as a movie theatre on November 17, 1976, with a martial arts movie "The Bodyguard". Most of the fittings and fixtures (including the seats) were then removed from the building.

In 1980 the Orpheum Theatre was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1984 it was gifted to the Orpheum Performing Arts Centre, Ltd., a non-profit corporation which is dedicated to the preservation, restoration and ongoing utilization of this important part of our cultural and architectural heritage.

To the greatest extent possible, it has been the intent of the Orpheum Performing Arts Centre, Ltd. to restore this beautiful theatre to the design that John Eberson initially conceived and constructed.

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State Theatre

Larned, KS
519 Broadway
Larned, KS 67550 United States
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The State Theatre originally opened in the late-1940's and is the only theater in this small town of 4,200 residents.

After being closed for two years, the old cinema reopened in early July 2002 with a theater full of volunteers running the show. The theater was recently renovated and its famous neon marquee is still being repaired with plans to reinstall it in the near future.

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Also known as Fox Watson Theatre

Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts

Salina, KS
151 S. Santa Fe Avenue
Salina, KS 67402 United States
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785.827.1998
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Vintage postcard view of the Fox Watson, now the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Photo courtesy of the public domain

This theater opened in 1931 as the Fox Watson Theatre, and closed sometime in the 1990's.

In 2001, supporters raised nearly $3 million to restore and renovate the old Fox Watson Theatre into a premiere performing arts center.

The theatre reopened on March 8, 2003.

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