 Some of these mighty structures have been destroyed others have been refurbished and are open for business. If you have any information regarding Kansas theaters, opera houses or drive in theaters but they are not listed or you have additional information or pictures for a theater please email me. Let's keep the history of our classic theaters alive!
Quick navigation by town name. |
|
Caldwell, Kansas |
|
Grand
Opera House By 1884 the growing city of Caldwell was interested in promoting the finer cultural aspects of life and plans were made to construct a new Grand Opera House. During that year an opulent three story brick structure was erected on this site. It was the pride of Caldwell and its size and elegance were unmatched anywhere in the Southwest. It was erected at a cost of $20,000 seated about 1200 people and contained a roller skating rink in the basement. The dedication was held on the evening of January 12, 1885 and was followed by the opening performance of "The Mascotte" presented by the Fay Templeton Comic Opera Company. Over the years it became the hub of the Caldwell social scene and was used for such events as graduation ceremonies as well as being visited by major theatrical troupes of the day, such as the Boston Opera Company. On February 19, 1918 the Grand Opera House was destroyed in a spectacular fire. While nearby businesses were saved, the Opera House was a total loss along with 25 trained dogs which were kenneled in the basement and a number of Home Guard rifles which added to the flames. Plans were immediately begun to build again on the old site, but never came to fruition. |
| Camp Funsten, Kansas |
|
Camp Theaters Three
Liberty
Theater |
| Cawker City, Kansas |
|
Opera
House No history available at this time. |
| Chanute, Kansas |
Chanute Cinema
 No history available at this time. Mills Theater Opened in 1929 no other history available at this time. Peoples Theater Opened in 1928 no other history available at this time. Hetrick Theater  No history available at this time. Neocha Drive In No history available at this time. Snark Theater No history available at this time. |
| Clay Center, Kansas |
|
Rex Theater
The Rex
Theatre is located at 519 Court and it seated 728 people when it was a
single screen theatre. |
| Coffeyville, Kansas |
|
Coffeyville Cinema
Midland
Theater
Tal's
Drive In |
| Colby, Kansas |
|
Colby Opera House This grand building which was on highway 24 just 2 blocks west of the main street was torn down in 1959. No other history available at this time. Opened in 1907 no other history available at this time. Lyric Theater Still standing today, although covered with metal at present, the front of the building contains a vertical mosaic tile front with the letters LYRIC. No other history available at this time. Colby Theatre Still in operation as a twin theatre. Opened in 1939-1940 no other history available at this time. Colby Drive In No history available at this time. |
| Coldwater, Kansas |
Chief Theatre
 The Chief radiates a nostalgic charm from the days of silent movies, newsreels and nickelodeons. In its prime the Chief featured movies every night of the week, weekend matinees and was frequently filled to its seating capacity of 300 people. In the late 1940's the theater was decorated in a Native American theme with colorful murals in the lobby and auditorium which have been preserved to this day. Currently operated and restored by the Chamber of Commerce, the Chief features current release movies every weekend projected by a new state of the art projection system. Built in 1928, the Chief Theater has been a mainstay of the Coldwater business district for generations. |
| Columbus, Kansas |
|
McGhee Theater
The McGhee Theater was used for road shows until 1911, then picture shows. It was later named the Liberty Theater and was nearly destroyed by fire in 1925. That building has undergone many renovations. In the 1970's it operated as a "Disco" for a few years. After the disco closed the building was used for various businesses. I believe it is empty now. Opened in 1904 no other history available at this time. An interesting note, the old ornate ticket booth that once stood outside the theater was sold and shipped to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. where it is in storage and brought out on special occasions. State Theater The State Theater is now a floor covering store. It was last used as a theater in the early 1970's, then remodeled and used as a restaurant and banquet room before undergoing the latest remodeling for the carpet store. Opened in 1948 no other history available at this time. Columbus Drive In No history available at this time. |
| Concordia, Kansas |
|
Brown Grand Theatre
Apollo Theater |
| Cottonwood Falls, Kansas |
|
Air Dome Theater Located on the East side of Broadway just south of where Peach Phillips 66 Station is now located. No other history available at this time. Lyric Theater Located on the west side of Broadway was opened in 1933 and owned and operated by Earl Harmon, He sold it to Ed May in 1946. Dudley Doolittle Jr, bought it in 1950 and operated it until he closed the business in 1961. Bill Meager bought the Lyric Theater building in 1970. It is a vacant building. |
| Council Grove, Kansas |
|
Ritz
Drive In
Stella Theatre |
|
Quick navigation by town name.
|
Information
Picture
