Grand Theater

Topeka, KS

615 SW Jackson Street

, Topeka, KS 66603 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1361
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Grand Theater in Topeka was located on Jackson Street at Sixth Street. It started out in 1882 as the Grand Opera House, being thought of as a state of the art venue with fifty exits.

Around the 1920's with the completion of the Jayhawk Theater (awaiting restoration), the Grand would be converted to a cinema. It was never really hailed as the most elaborate, but was able to hold the most capacity in the city.

Around the 1960's or 70's the Grand was temporary closed, then reopened in 1980 as a cinema. A different movie was shown at every time slot, plus it housed Friday night midnight sessions of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". The Grand would re-close in 1983, and unfortunately a year later would suffer a roof collapse, and was razed by 1984.

In its place now is a parking lot for the Topeka Independent Living building.

Contributed by Michael Parsons

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Here is the landmark information:

Grand Opera House (added 1986 - Building - #80001474)
Also known as Grand Theater
Shawnee County - 615 Jackson St., Topeka
(10 acres, 1 building)
Historic Significance: Event
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture, Vacant/Not In Use

posted by ken mc on Feb 9, 2006 at 1:03pm

Here is an 1892 print of the Opera House (which is for sale, to be fair):
http://www.printsoldandrare.com/kansas/011ks.jpg

posted by ken mc on Feb 9, 2006 at 1:14pm

Here is a photo of the outside and marquee of the Grand, taken from cjonline.com. Seeing as it is advertising and decorated for the showing of King Kong, Im assuming this pic is from 1933 or so.

http://cjonline.com/images/121999/fea.arts.ks.ent.2.jpg

posted by Michael Parsons on Feb 13, 2006 at 11:59am

There was a fire in the late sixties that probably led to the temporary closure. At that time the theater was owned by Fox Midwest.

posted by ken mc on Mar 1, 2007 at 5:32pm

Just ran into a few sets of antique seats pulled from this theatre for sale on ebay. If you are in the Topeka area for pickup the price is very reasonable:

http://cgi.ebay.com/SET-OF-2-ANTIQUE-THEATER-CHAIRS-GRAND-THEATER-TOPEKA_W0QQitemZ110240163362QQihZ001QQcategoryZ63568QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

http://cgi.ebay.com/SET-OF-3-ANTIQUE-THEATER-CHAIRS-GRAND-THEATER-TOPEKA_W0QQitemZ110240163234QQihZ001QQcategoryZ63568QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

http://cgi.ebay.com/SET-OF-2-ANTIQUE-THEATER-CHAIRS-GRAND-THEATER-TOPEKA_W0QQitemZ300213309661QQihZ020QQcategoryZ63568QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

The end-cap seat standards seem unusual to me, not the heavy high-relief molded iron that are often seen; it seems like maybe a native american inspired art deco design?

posted by Claydoh77 on Apr 7, 2008 at 7:58am

1984 photo of the Grand Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c16%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=27613
1984 photo looking at the stage.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c16%2c3%2c-1&catpageindex=31&ProductID=27616

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 14, 2009 at 11:56pm

Two more 1984 photos are here:

Photo1

Photo2

posted by Lost Memory on May 20, 2009 at 6:45am

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