Midland Theater

The Midland Theatre seated 959 people.

My information states that the Midland to could seat up to 1200 people.

Here is a link to a 1998 article about the restoration of this theatre:
http://www.kstatecollegian.com/issues/v103/fa/n035/news/cam.coffeyville.ewing.html

Photo of the Midland Theatre.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/Kansas%20Theatres/MidlandTheatreCoffeyvilleKs.jpg

Here is a photo of the Midland theater.

This is a nice recent photo of the Midland Theater.

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
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

As of 1997, this theater was still showing first run films and was run by the original(?) owner and her daughter. The owner, although elderly and disabled, still greeted customers in a smart dress suit and full make-up!

Lovely little beaux arts lobby, Hollywood baroque carpet. Sadly, in the mid to late 90s the balcony was off limits and unsafe and there was such bad water and mold damage to the ceiling and walls that it made movie-going almost unbearable.

Once I exited out the back of the auditorium by the stage and saw behind the screen - lots of rigging and plenty of stage room for vaudeville performances in the past. Also lots of old lobby cards, some from 1960's Steve McQueen features.

I know this might make me sound old,But as a boy I worked for John Tackett on his ranch out South east of Coffeyville,We became very good friends and he would take me to his house a lot where we would eat,visit,and he had pleanty of stories he could tell about the Daltons Etc.Of course I had it made going to the old Tackett theater,Then later on I got to knoe Mr.Tal and his family when they started running the Midland and Tals Drive After a couple years in the Army in Germany I came back and married a wonderfull girl from Caney,We spent 25 years in Nashville working with the music people Now we spend most of our time in South Fl.when not in Tn.Mr Tackett died March 31st.1956 and I sure wish I had a copy of what the Journal printed about him at that time,If someone would e-mail me a copy I would shore be thankfull.Old Coffeyville Buddy
Charles L.Alexander
clalexander35@adelphia.net

A 1983 Midland Theater movie calendar here.

"Movie calendar courtesy of the public domain"

This is a 2008 photo.

Here is a pdf file of the National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Midland Theater. It contains a detailed description of the theater and a few small black and white photos. There's also additional information about John Tackett and Coffeyville.

Among pertinent bits from the form: The house came under Fox Theatres management less than a year after it opened, and that's when the name was changed; Fox continued to operate the Midland until 1960; in 1960 the theater was sold to Talmadge ("Tal") and Pearl Richardson; "Tal" Richardson died in 1976, and Pearl continued to run the Midland until her death in 1998; the city of Coffeyville purchased the building after Pearl Richardson died.

During the Fox era, the organ (the form says it was a "Wicks nine-manual" but they must have meant nine rank) was sold, the orchestra pit filled with concrete, the box seats were removed and total seating capacity reduced (it originally had 1200 seats), and the chandeliers were removed. A concession stand was also added. The building originally contained a 25'x50' ballroom on the second floor front, with access via doors to the theatre's mezzanine lobby. The ballroom was divided into office space during the Fox period.

Plus, the Midland Theatre Foundation now has an official web site.

According to the Foundations mission statement they are going to restore the theatre and the Alamo building next door. It looks like they have restored the extrior. It is really in great shape.

Hey Chuck. I see this is another one of many that you had photos of.
Did you loose all your files ( I certainly hope not!)

Don...

Don,
I lost a lot of my files during my illness, Let my niece use the computer and she sort of crashed it. I was finally able to get my passward straight on photobucket and retrieved a lot of my theatre photos. I was astounded at the front of the Midland Theatre and how much improvement they have made on it. I had relatives in Coffeyville so there was a little sentiment involved with this theatre. I hope they fulfill the plans for this theatre. It is truly a treasure.

1982 photo of the Midloand Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c16%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=27474