Prairie Arts Theatre
112 W. Main Street,
Harper,
KS
67058
112 W. Main Street,
Harper,
KS
67058
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Harper Theater
Nearby Theaters
Built in 1922, the Harper Theater was still operating as a movie theatre in 1960. It was saved from demolition by a concerned citizens' group. Later named the Prairie Arts Theatre, the space was supposedly used for music, poetry and other live performances. It likely was only open a few days a year. It was owned by a local eccentric, Rosalea Hostetler, and was mostly used to store junk. The doors were padlocked, and the building was in disrepair. She died in 2024, and the building is abandoned.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
“At Harper, Carl Botkin has taken out the first four rows of seats in front of the screen, plays records in the booth, and couples dance before and after the show.” — Boxoffice, June 13, 1960
The theater was likely a remodel of an older commercial building constructed sometime between 1899 and 1905. The 1943 Sanborn shows the building ending well short of the alley, so it must have been remodeled at some later point.
If the opening date is accurate, this must be the ‘New’ listed in the 1926 Yearbook with 250 seats.