Plaza Theatre

Lamar, MO

107 West 11th Street

, Lamar, MO 64759 United States

(map)

417.682.6843

Status:	Open
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Deco

Function:	Movies (First Run)
Seats:	375
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Robert O. Boller, Larry P. Larsen
Firm:	Unknown

Located on the south side of historic Lamar Square. The Plaza Theatre opened on October 25, 1934 with great fan fare. Every major studio at that time sent representitives for opening night. Telegrams were sent from Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Mae West, Al Jolson and many others. The Plaza Theatre was designed by architect Larry P. Larsen of Webb City. It was remodeled in 1945 to the designs of architect Robert O. Boller and had a seating capacity of 587.

Closed in 1986 when a fire at a clothing store next door forced the theatre to shut down. With no funds available and condemation inevitable, a group of local citizens and business owners stepped forward to head a committee to save this historic theatre. After 10 years+ of negotiating and fund raising, the Plaza Theatre reopened on November 5, 1998. Still a single screen, with original hand painted murals on canvas tapestries hanging on side walls. Various designs and decor throughout the building.

Related Websites

Lamar Movies (Official)

Contributed by scott kelley, Joe Davis

YOUR COMMENTS

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.

posted by Jim Rankin on Apr 29, 2004 at 3:41am

The Plaza theatre went through a remodel in 1945 with a new design handled by Robert O. Boller of the Boller Bros. of KC, Mo.

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 16, 2004 at 8:01pm

This is a photo of the Plaza Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 22, 2008 at 1:27pm

Showtimes for the Plaza Theater can be found here.

posted by Lost Memory on Feb 24, 2008 at 12:26pm

This is one of the nicest theatres out there. It took them 5 years to completely renovate it and they did a magnificent job with it. I don't go to the movies often anymore but I tend to go to the Plaza the most, mainly because it's a small town theatre and they've done a good job of keeping up the historical look to it while making it more modern as well.

Throughout the theatre are reminders of the threate in it's early days. There are pictures of the front of the theatre from 50-60 years ago.

This threate has great management running it and should be there for many years to come.

posted by Jeremy Murray on Apr 3, 2008 at 10:53pm

Flicker photo of the Plaza Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/2721024521/sizes/o/in/set-72057594054766350/

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:00am

Night photo of the Plaza Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/2721024461/sizes/o/in/set-72057594054766350/

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:03am

Interior photo of the Plaza Theatre. Not the greatest but visible.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/2721849984/sizes/o/in/set-72057594054766350/

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:05am

Hello,

I am in the process of redoing the LamarMovies.com website. I am adding pictures (old and new) as well as history of both the Plaza Theater and Barco Drive-In so stay tuned.

This is what I am working on now, although I am not making it "public" until I am done. But you can have a sneak peek.

www.lamarmo.com/movies

Thank you

posted by LamarMovies.com on Aug 22, 2009 at 5:10am

The web site looks really great, looks like you don't need to do much more with it.

posted by Chuck1231 on Aug 22, 2009 at 10:29am

Thanks Chuck. It is close to complete. I am not going to clutter it up with a whole bunch of junk but I do want to get my facts straight and POST as many old photos as I can. I love those things.
Take care,

Joe

posted by LamarMovies.com on Aug 22, 2009 at 12:11pm

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