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A
History Lesson on the Colonial Fox Theater
Pittsburg, Kansas
The Colonial Fox Theatre
(1919-1920) is located at 409 North Broadway in Pittsburg, Crawford
County, Kansas (population 17,800). The largest city in southeast
Kansas, Pittsburg is approximately 10 miles southeast of the county seat
of Girard and approximately 3 miles west of the Missouri state line. The
theatre's dual name reflects the fact that from its opening in 1920,
until the late 1950s, it was known as the Colonial. In 1959, the Fox
Kansas Theatre Company, which leased the theatre, renamed it the Fox,
the name by which it was known until closing in the mid-1980s.
The exaggerated two story Colonial Fox Theatre is an Italian Renaissance
Revival style rectangular building with beaux-arts details. It has an
eastern facade orientation facing Pittsburg's main street, Broadway (a
north to south thoroughfares). The theatre measures 50' wide from north
to south, 170' deep from east to west, with a 30' ceiling in the
auditorium. Not uncommon of Italian Renaissance design in this period,
the theatre has a top-heavy feel and although not Arts and Crafts, its
lingering horizontally is representative of the influence of the
American Arts and Crafts movement. Below the dentilated cornice, the
Colonial Fox's facade is comprised mainly of raked tapestry brick with
terra cotta detail embellishments including tow symmetrically placed
diamonds surrounded by a herring bone brick pattern. Between 1920 and
1926, the lower facade featured an open arched portico entrance. There
was a loosely Palladian relationship between the center entrance and
flanking fenestration with terra cotta trim work around the two
pilasters and archway.
Historically, the Colonial Fox's portico entrance was flanked by four
shops (or "rooms") which opened onto the street and into the
portico. The interior consisted of a small inner lobby, cavernous and
boxy auditorium, and basement with white tile on the floor and walls
(extant). The 1,200 seat auditorium has no balcony but utilizes stadium
seating with the floor gradually sloping downward from the last row of
seats to the stage. The theatre was originally decorated in blue and
white tones with painted semi-atmospheric canvas murals on the walls of
the auditorium.
In 1926, the Colonial Fox underwent a major renovation which produced
its present interior configuration. The open arched entrance was
enclosed and a suspended ceiling was installed. The box office, which
had been located at the rear of the entrance, was moved out toward the
sidewalk. This created the theatre's outer-lobby, or "interior
foyer". In addition to new carpeting, new lighting, new projection
system, new drapes, and painting in the auditorium, a lounge for women
was added in the inner lobby and the stairway leading from the basement
to the street was removed. A new marquise, which extended 10 feet out
over the sidewalk, was also added.
In 1959, the Colonial Fox underwent another renovation which produced
the marquise (an ". . . exact duplicate of illuminated front
extensions of modern show houses being built in the larger cities . . .
"), it was hoped the remodeling would offer "a metropolitan
theatrical aspect along Broadway."
Once again As Messenger undertook the $15,000 project which lasted
nearly two weeks. During the remodeling in May 1926, the Colonial also
shuffled its management. While the Pittsburg Amusement Company continued
to own the properties, the Colonial and Klock (another of the company's
theatres) were leased to the "Midland theatre circuit of Kansas
City." At the time, Midland operated theatres in Wichita,
Hutchinson, and Salina Kansas, and was building the Midland Theatre in
Kansas City, Missouri, at 13th and Main. As part of the deal, the Klock
underwent a more extensive renovation than the Colonial, overseen by the
Boller Brothers, a prominent Kansas City, Missouri, theatre design firm.
Upon completion, the Klock was reopened as the Midland Theatre.
Sometime before 1944, the Pittsburg Amusement Company leased the Midland
and Colonial to Fox Kansas Theatre Company. In 1958, the metal and brick
false fronts were begun on the Colonial, and when the current art-deco
Fox marquise was attached in 1959, the Colonial was officially renamed
the Fox Theatre. Although this marquise, originally on the Midland
Theatre (demolished), compromises the integrity of the facade visa-a-vis
its circa 1920-1926 appearance, for more than forty years it has become
closely associated with the theatre. During restoration of the theatre,
which has been vacant since the mid-1980s, the Colonial Fox Theatre,
Inc. group plans to retain the marquise.
The Colonial Fox Theatre (1919-1920) is being nominated to the Register
of Historic Kansas Places under criteria A and C for its architectural
significance as an architecturally designed movie palace reflecting
small town sensibilities and for its historical association with the
commercial and social development of Pittsburg. The Colonial Fox Theatre
is located at 409 North Broadway in Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas
(population 17,800). Despite the reversible false front and art deco
marquise added in 1959, the theatre maintains a high degree of
architectural integrity on both the interior and exterior.
Built just prior to the height of the traditional movie palace years
(1925-1930), the Colonial Fox is Pittsburg's, and Crawford County's,
only remaining theatre from this era. Located on Broadway (Pittsburg's
main north to south thoroughfare), between the two world wars, the
Colonial Theatre, as it was called before the 1950s, was one of several
theatres which anchored downtown entertainment and nightlife in the
region's largest city. Incorporated in 1879, Pittsburg was the mining
and smelting heart of an area rich in natural resources. In 1905, there
were 55 coal companies (primarily strip mining) in and around the city,
employing 11,835 men. (Blackmar, 480) One of the Colonial's original
owners was Alexander Besse (1868-1944), a prominent coal mining
entrepreneur. In addition to its signature extractive industries, at the
time of the theatre's construction, Pittsburg was home to the Kansas
City Southern railroad's main shops, numerous foundries and machine
shops, mills, boiler works, a brick plant, sewer pipe works, various
factories, and the Kansas Manual Training Normal School (Pittsburg State
University).
Its large numbers of immigrants gave Pittsburg a unique cultural
diversity compared to most cities in Kansas, and the Colonial was built
as a showplace accessible to all classes and eventually all ethnic
groups. Like most theatres in the 1920s which were designed by local
architects in accordance to styles established in large cities,
according to The Pittsburg Daily Headlight, the Colonial was
"constructed along the same lines as the Isis in Kansas City."
Blending opulence, economy, and small town sensibilities, the theatre's
facade is Italian Renaissance Revival with beaux arts details. Below the
dentilated cornice, the Colonial's facade is comprised mainly of raked
tapestry brick with terra cotta detail embellishments including tow
symmetrically placed diamonds surrounded by a herring bone brick
pattern. Between 120 and 1926, the lower facade featured an open arched
portico entrance. There was a loosely Palladian relationship between the
center entrance and flanking fenestration with terra cotta trim work
around the two pilasters and archway.
The Colonial was conceived, owned, and operated by the Pittsburg
Amusement Company which also operated the Mystic and Klock theatres in
Pittsburg. At the time construction began on the Colonial in June 1919,
the Pittsburg Amusement Company consisted of the estate of W. H. Daly,
R. H. and G. E. Klock, and Alexander Besse. An influential local
businessman, Besse was a founding member of the Pittsburg Amusement
Company and served variously as its president, treasurer, and general
manager until his death in 1944. In addition to owning business and
residential property in and around Pittsburg, the French immigrant was a
pioneer in the area's steam shovel strip mining, founding the
Besse-Cockerill Coal Company circa 1910, one of the first companies to
use large steam shovels. For a time, he owned the Oskaloosa Coal
Company, and had interest in the Pittsburg & Arkansas Zinc Company
in Zinc, Arkansas, as well as other zinc and lead mining operations
around Joplin, Missouri. The twelve story Hotel Besse (1926- 1927),
Pittsburg's largest structure, is named for him because of his role as
the hotel's primary stockholder (he contributed $30,000 to its
construction) and his capacity as its vice-president.
Asa Messenger, was the general contractor and chief builder, as well as,
part owner of the Colonial. In addition to his various residential and
commercial structures, Messenger was known as "Pittsburg's Premier
Builder," primarily because of his work on the Masonic Temple, the
remodeling of the National Bank, and rebuilding of Russ Hal at the
Normal school. Although modeled after the Isis in Kansas City, all the
Colonial's builders and craftsmen were from Pittsburg. The Pittsburg
Boiler & Machine Company, which also manufactured coal mining
machinery, produced the building's 1,000 pound steel girders which
support the roof. "All of the beautiful stone work for the Colonial
theatre" was done by Hance White & Son Marble Works while all
the woodwork was done at Messenger's mill. Harry A. Clark did the
plumbing and the Pittsburg Cornice Works installed the "Wise
Furnace", with W. C. Wilson completing this and other "metal
work" for the theatre's ventilating and heating system. Wilson
designed a "split air plan" which supplied fresh air to the
projectionist booth while keeping film odors from the public. Borden-Brisbin
Electrical Company installed the Colonial's eight and a half miles of
wiring, 20,000 conduits, and special dimming device on the auditorium
lights. H. A. Smith decorated the Colonial with materials furnished by
A. O. Wheeler, the city's "exclusive dealer" of Sherwin-
Williams paints. Eventually the Colonial cost approximately $80,000 to
complete, with Messenger's weekly payroll running between $500 to
$1,800.
On March 16, 1920, The Pittsburg Daily Headlight ran a special 8
page section to commemorate the opening of "Pittsburg's New
Playhouse", which it referred to as "the largest and most
modern theatre in Southeast Kansas". When the Colonial officially
opened the next day, 2,000 attended the St. Patrick's Day showing of
"Everywoman", an 8 reel Paramount- Artcraft feature starring
Violet Heming, Theodore Roberts, and Wanda Hawley (like other theatres
which aligned themselves with the motion picture studios forming in the
1920s, the Colonial was initially contracted to show Paramount-Artcraft
movies). At least 1,000 had to be turned away. Most seats went for .35
that first night, but 500 sold for .50. A six piece orchestra, later a
"Regular Every Day Feature at the Colonial," played a special
opening night score. For the remainder of the week, the Colonial
established its permanent schedule with the box office opening at 6:00
PM, the first picture beginning at 6:30, followed by vaudeville at 8:00,
a second show at 8:30, and more vaudeville at 10:00. There were no
matinees on opening day, but thereafter the matinee became a staple.
Although some lighting did not work and some minor details were not
complete initially, the Colonial was described as having" . . . no
glamour-no-glare-just that restful; peaceful and charmed feeling that
comes to one when they look upon a thing to beauty". The
auditorium, which retains a high degree of integrity, seated 1,200 in an
innovative stadium arrangement which reflected Alexander Besse's
"distinct aversion" to balconies. This configuration, in which
the floor gently slopes "from the last row of seats down to the
stage" assured that no patron's view was obstructed. Behind the
orchestra pit (nonextant) the 50' by 27' stage was large enough to
accommodate the traveling vaudeville shows booked out of Chicago through
the Interstate Booking Agency. Air was circulated by a ventilating
system consisting of air shafts and electric fans (nonextant). At the
time of the opening, The Pittsburg Daily Headlight reported that
"the theatre is effectively decorated in white and blue
tones". Some recall that the walls of the auditorium were covered
by semi-atmospheric canvas murals, quite popular in the 1920s, and the Headlight's
mention of "the scenery and curtains which were being painted. .
." indicates that they may have been the case. Although the canvas
tapestries still cover the walls, it is believed the originals were
either painted over or stolen.
Greatly enhancing the movie going experience, The Pittsburg Daily
Headlight recorded that "the new theatre building houses five
business enterprises" which were located in four shops (or
"room") off the Colonial's portico entrance and in its
basement. The basement housed W. H. Kelley's barber shop and pool hall.
With white glazed tile on the floor and 8' up to the walls (extant),
Kelley's featured four new pool tables, three barber chairs, and a way
for sporting customers to enter from Broadway without venturing into the
theatre (this staircase was removed in 1926). Consumers' Coffee Company
occupied one of the ground floor rooms which flanked the portico. Owned
by M. L. Probst, Consumers' had originally been Wright Brothers Dry
Goods Company which had been located on the site before the Colonial.
Roasting coffee and peanuts fresh daily "Just Like You Get In The
Big Cities", and serving as the downtown outlet for Wright's Green
Houses, Consumers' must have given the entire lobby area quite an
appealing aroma. The Little Kitchenette, owned and operated by O. M.
Richmond, served home cooked meals and homemade pies in another room.
Although it advertised its "neat fixtures and all the latest modern
equipment", The Little Kitchenette certainly contributed its own
distinct smells as well. On the South side of the entrance, The Smoke
Shop, run by W. H. Seleman, catered to both male and female patrons with
boxes of chocolate, assorted candies, magazines, and a fountain for the
ladies, and cigars for men. The Pittsburg Shoe Shining Parlor occupied
the remaining room.
The 1920s saw impressive economic growth in Pittsburg. As coal mining
companies "greatly increased payrolls each month" at
mid-decade, a new home construction accelerated while new schools,
depots, and college buildings were also completed. In 1926, predicted to
be a "banner year for Pittsburg", commercial and residential
construction broke 1 million dollars, outpacing 1925. It was during the
spring of 1926, that the Colonial briefly closed for what was described
as "extensive exterior remodeling and complete redecorating
inside". In addition to a new indirect lighting system, projection
machine, carpeting, and drapes, the stage was expanded to 50' X 37', the
extra 10' in depth covering the orchestra pit. Yet, the most significant
aspect of the 1926 remodeling was the creation of the current
"interior foyer". According to The Pittsburg Daily
Headlight "The old lobby is being torn out completely and will
be replaced with an extension of the theatre to the sidewalk with
commodious foyer inside the building. A ladies restroom is being
installed. The ticket office will be at the edge of the sidewalk and
will be fronted with an attractive illuminated marquise. A new 25-foot
electric sign to be suspended over the sidewalk will be installed".
By "doing away with the present large dome entrance", moving
the box office out to the street, and adding the extended configuration
of its present facade. A combination brick and metal false front covered
the original store entrances and pilasters on the lower facade. The
shops on the South remain, although with street entrance only. The shops
on the North were converted to the theatre's office space. The present
art-deco Fox marquise, originally on the nearby Midland theatre,
replaced the 1926 marquise.
Despite the 1959 alterations to the facade and the addition of the Fox
marquise, the Colonial Fox Theatre maintains a high degree of
architectural integrity on both the interior and exterior. Vacant since
the mid-1980s, the interior, including the basement, has been altered
little since the 1926 renovation and only cosmetic changed are needed in
its restoration. The arched entry in the outer-lobby is extant under the
suspended ceiling. Likewise, it is highly probable that the two pillars
and archway were merely covered by the reversible false front. Good
historic photographs of the original facade exist, and the Colonial Fox
Theatre, Inc. group intend to restore the facade to its circa 1920-1926
configuration. The current Fox marquise, although not part of that
original arrangement, will be retained due to its close association with
the theatre since 1959.
Interested in
helping please send your contribution to:
Colonial FOX THEATRE, INC.
Gift Processing Center
P.O. Box 1908
Pittsburg, KS 66762
or contact us at (316) 232-6156 and be a part of one or more of our
seven committees.
WEBSITE:
http://www.colonialfoxtheatre.org
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