Coleman Theatre

We saw this theater when we took a Route 66 trip through Miami. It is absolutely beautiful on the outside (did not go inside).

Seating capacity for the coleman theatre is 1600.

Actually, the theatre was never twinned and has never been closed. It was running first run movies (ONLY, it was never a "performing art center") up to the day the city took over management and there has been something going on (including movies in the summer and at the holidays) ever since. Although seating was originally 1600, at this time it seats approximately 600.

Tour of Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas Theatres in 2004
From June 26 through July 1, 2004 the Theatre Historical Society of America will tour a number of theatres in Kansas City Missouri and surrounding areas, including theatres in Lamar, Joplin, Richmond, St. Joseph and Springfield, MO, as well as Miami, OK, and these cities in Kansas: Leavenworth, Kansas City, Emporia, El Dorado, Augusta, Wichita, Hutchinson, McPherson, Salina, Concordia, and Topeka. More information is contained on their web site: http://www.HistoricTheatres.org and special photos and information concerning the Kansas City theatres: UPTOWN and the MIDLAND is available on this temporary page of their site at: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/fromarch.html A glossy brochure about this "Heart of America" Conclave is available from the Society's headquarters listed on their homepage, via E-mail to the Ex. Director, or via snail mail. Membership in the Society is not required to attend the Conclave and tour the theatres, but fees do apply as detailed on their site. Bring your camera and lots of film, for it is usually difficult or impossible to enter these theatres for photos, and some of them will surely not be with us in the years to come.

The link for the Coleman Theatre above is no longer active. The architect for the Coleman Theatre was Robert O. Boller of the Boller Bros. of KC., Mo.

Forgot to mention that the Boller Brothers were in charge of the remodel done in 1946 also.

If you are ever in Miami, you have to visit this great theater. Although people will tell you that the theater never closed it did. It is true that the theater never closed its doors; but because the stage was never used over the period of ten years, the theater was closed in the eyes of the theatrical world. If you are ever in Miami and have time, take the Coleman's tour. Ask for Larry (he gives the best tours). The auditorium is wonderful and the history is so rich that you can feel it!

The theater is not associated with any chain or firm and the exterior is the Spanish Mission with an interior of Louis XIV and XV (pre-1940 remodel but the Friends of the Coleman have certainly brought back that wonderfully beautiful interior over time).

Thankfully the Coleman was rescued from the clutches of Carmike Cinemas who some how got control of it in the '70/'80s. They also had the drivein in Miami. Too bad it is no more.

Here is a ling to an article on the restoration of the beautiful changelier at the Coleman.
http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/srollins1095711808

hello i am trying to find the decorator that decorated the Coleman for the opening night in 1928 i have heard some names but want some proof i also want to know the names of the persons on staff i guess the decorating team thank you

History of the theater and its Wurlitzer organ along with a great exterior photo:
http://theatreorgans.com/miami.ok/

The beautiful Coleman Theatre is still undergoing restoration and should have new downstairs seats that will replicate the originals by late September. Seating is being replaced/restored by donations of $350-$500 for a commemorative plaque placed on a seat. There is a new web site - colemantheatre.org and the email is colemantheatre@cableone.net The venue ranges from professional shows and musical programs to local theatre and school performances with everything from country western to light opera. The local Indian Tribes also use the theatre for special events. It has become a tourist mecca on Historic Route 66 and is well worth a stop and look see.

recent photos (2002):
http://community.webshots.com/photo/46611235/46611235Edggtk
http://community.webshots.com/photo/46611427/46611427VrKGqi
http://community.webshots.com/photo/46611908/46611908KiRHeX

Want to see other Ottawa County, Oklahoma, theaters? For images of theaters sich as ELECTRIC, GLORY-B, MIAMI OPERA HOUSE, OTTAWA, PLAZA, and ROXY, then navigate this web site;
http:..www.homestead.com/schehrer2/

Want to see other historic Ottawa County, Oklahoma, theaters? Go here for images of theaters such as ELECTRIC, GLORY-B, MIAMI OPERA HOUSE, OTTAWA, PLAZA, AND ROXY, then navigate this site;
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/

This is a closeup view of the Coleman theater marquee and entrance.

GLORY B (AKA-Miami) THEATER images-
http://www.homestead.com/scherhrer2/Miami_4.html

GLORY B (AKA-Miami) THEATER images-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_4.html
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_8.html
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_9.html

OTTOWA THEATER image-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami_9.html

GRAND THEATER image-
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Miami13.html

Picher (Ottawa County), Oklahoma theater photos.
ELECTRIC THEATER;
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/Picher32.html
PLAZA and ROXY THEATERS;
http://www.homestead.com/schehrer2/theaters1.html

Explore this fun website for interesting Coleman pix -
http://www.agilitynut.com/theatres/ok.html

Miami is one of my planned overnights on my Route 66 trip this summer. The itinerary from Los Angeles includes overnights in Kingman and Winslow AZ, Grants and Santa Rosa NM, Amarillo TX, El Reno and Miami OK, Rolla and St. Louis MO, and Chicago. This is about two hundred miles a day on the Mother Road.

Here are some photos of the Coleman from a Route 66 website:
http://tinyurl.com/fabrn

Original scenery for the Coleman was created by Great Western Stage Equipment Company-
http://digital.lib.umn.edu/scenery/index.html

This link has a few pages of recent photos of the Coleman Theater.

Here is a recent interior photo of the Coleman Theater.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983

Coleman Theatre ** (added 1983 - Building - #83002114)
1st and Main Sts., Miami
Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
Architect, builder, or engineer: Rucks-Brandt Construction Co., Boller Brothers
Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Specialty Store, Theater

This link leads to an Oklahoma Today Magazine article written about the Coleman, with good color pictures. On this link navigate to Oklahoma Today issue Vol 41, #1, Jan, 1991-
http://digital.library.okstate.edu/

Another photo of the Coleman Theater can be seen here.

These rare vintage images are the best yet, to see these fantastic views type in word "coleman", then search -
http://okhistory.cuadra.com/starweb3/b.archives/servlet.starweb3?path=b.archives/STARArchives.public.web

This is the website for the Coleman Theater.

1987 photos of the Coleman Theater here and here.

Spelling police, this is yet another case of "r" before "e" at the ending of the "t" word--Coleman Theatre (not Coleman Theater). Please link to the official website for confirmation: www.colemantheatre.org Perhaps the listing name should also be changed to Coleman Theatre Beautiful. I can't figure if that's an official name or just used for descriptive purposes.

If the name on the website is Coleman Theatre Beautiful, then thats the name that should be at the top of this page.

I'm not quite sure. The website is www.colemantheatre.org Why didn't they go for the full name www.colemantheatrebeautiful.org? In "the old days," theatres sometimes used that expression even though it wasn't the actual name. For example, the Queensboro Theatre, in Elmhurst, Queens, NY, used to advertise as "Queensboro Theatre Beautiful," but only Queensboro Theatre appeared on the actual signage. In any case, the "t" word for the Coleman is "Theatre," not "Theater."

This is a close-up view. Here is another exterior view. None of the building photos that I have looked at show the word "Beautiful". The name is most likely "Coleman Theatre". I'll leave this one for the judges to make a ruling on.

Last night Kansas City's PBS Station, KCPT 19, aired a 30 minute documentary about the Coleman Theater. It is available for purchase here: http://www.rsupublictv.org/shop.htm

Here is a photo, circa 1951:
http://tinyurl.com/3vllyj

The Lemon Drop Kid was released in April of 1951.

Here is a 2008 photo of the Coleman.

An ultra nice October 2008 photo can be seen here.

1985 night photo of the Coleman Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c36%2c3%2c-1&ProductID=35571

This is a 2009 photo.

Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/cbl86l

We were at the theatre in August 2007. We were told that Ghost Hunters were coming in the fall. Did that ever happen?

Here is a December 1936 ad from the Miami Daily News-Record. The same issue advertised the New Baxter Theater in Baxter Springs, KS. I didn't see that one listed, so if anyone wants to add it feel free.
http://tinyurl.com/o3qgpa

This is another 2009 photo.

This is a 2009 photo of the Coleman.

Hear theatre pipe organ music played on a (four rank) Wurlitzer that is similar to that of the Coleman's three rank instrument -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InXKYHYOcDs&feature=related
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Here's a street view of the Colemann Theater. The map link above does not bring you to the right main st in Miami, it brings you to Main St in Commerce for some reason, but if you pan down, you can find Main St in Miami, a TOTALLY different looking town!

Anyway, here's the street view at N Main St and 1st Ave in Miami:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=103+North+Main+Street,+Miami,+OK+74354+United+States&hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=103+N+Main+St,+Miami,+Ottawa,+Oklahoma+74354&ll=36.8766,-94.877565&spn=0.008239,0.01929&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=36.876484,-94.877553&panoid=WlEPTPheZKC9cUL9A0YKMg&cbp=12,248.26,,0,-5.61

A recent article about the Coleman with an interior picture: http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/article.aspx?subjectid=272&articleid=20100228_272_D8_BudCat954099