Willis Wood Theater

118 W. 11th Street,
Kansas City, MO 64105

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Tinseltoes
Tinseltoes on August 13, 2012 at 9:51 am

Described in this 1914 trade article: archive

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 9, 2010 at 2:10 pm

Very short life span for this theatre.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 9, 2010 at 1:18 pm

Here’s a report by the fire chief of Kansas City describing the fire that destroyed the Willis Wood Theatre in 1917:

“Willis Wood Theatre, northeast corner Eleventh and Baltimore, January 8th, 1917. The first alarm was received at 12:50 A. M., followed by a second alarm at 12:51 A. M. The building was a three-story brick theatre owned by the Willis Wood estate, and occupied by Messrs. Richards & Flynn, as a moving picture theatre. Upon arrival of the Department the fire had spread throughout the entire building. The fire was practically confined to the theatre, with nominal exposure losses on the Home Telephone Company’s building and the Kansas City Southern Railway building, adjoining. The loss on building and contents was $87,296.51, the total insurance being $551.549.82. Eight single streams and two turret streams were used in extinguishing the fire; cause, unknown.”

lostmemory
lostmemory on September 18, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Here are two 1905 photos:

Photo1

Photo2

This pdf file gives some history of the Willis Wood Theater including a seat count of 1,527.

lostmemory
lostmemory on July 21, 2009 at 7:53 am

If you can find a link to the library photo, you should post it. I like to know where these photos come from.

Chuck1231
Chuck1231 on July 21, 2009 at 7:29 am

The kclibrary has that exact same photo, looks identical.

lostmemory
lostmemory on July 21, 2009 at 4:09 am

What is the source for that photo?

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on July 20, 2009 at 11:31 pm

Here is a 1914 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/l7kxer

Roloff
Roloff on March 26, 2007 at 3:55 am

The postcard can be seen here View link

Roloff
Roloff on April 9, 2006 at 1:27 pm

I have a postcard for this theatre that’s different from the ones in the links above, or the one at the kclibrary. It’s pretty much taken from the same angle, and the lot on the right is still empty (trees). “THE SULTAN OF SULU” is advertised, probably the 1902 musical comedy by George Ade. Which means the picture was taken in it’s opening days!

mlind
mlind on July 19, 2005 at 12:18 pm

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mlind
mlind on July 18, 2005 at 12:41 pm

Another view from 1908 View link

teecee
teecee on June 1, 2005 at 12:16 pm

Print for sale at this link:
View link

mlind
mlind on February 15, 2005 at 3:59 pm

Correct link for above website (Bygone Theaters) View link

mlind
mlind on February 15, 2005 at 3:16 pm

Another postcard view: View link

RobbKCity
RobbKCity on December 28, 2004 at 4:31 am

If there was ever a front exterior that should have been saved and reused as the base entrance foran office tower, it is the exterior of this theater.