Marple Theater
417 E. Douglas Avenue,
Wichita,
KS
67202
417 E. Douglas Avenue,
Wichita,
KS
67202
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The Marple Theater was built around 1908 for William H. Marple. By 1941 and into the early 1950’s it was known as the State Theater.
The building is now used as a night club called the Midnight Blue club.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
WICHITA EAGLE April 3, 1908
Mrs. Emma Dodd on May 1st will commence the erection of a three story brick
building, to contain a new theater 130 ft. long and the full width of 415 and 417 E.
Douglas, for Mr. W. H. Marple. Seating capacity will be 650. The Douglas ave.
facade will be lighted with 200 electric lights.
This is a recent photo of the former Marple Theater building. Notice the name Dodd on the building. Anyone know who Emma Dodd was?
The Wichita Beacon, dated June 22, 1928 reports the death of Emma Dodd. The name E. M. Dodd on the building is most likely her husband’s name which was Edward M. Dodd. As far as I can tell, Edward was the builder of the Marple Theater.
More on the Marple:
WICHITA EAGLE February 11, 1977
The Vogue Art Theater, 417 East Douglas, an adult movie theater in downtown
Wichita, closed its doors yesterday afternoon after city vice detectives seized another
set of films at the movie house. Other adult theaters are the Circle Cinema,
2570 South Seneca, and the Calico Cat, 7520 West Kellogg.
WICHITA EAGLE January 15, 1978
Wichita’s former Marple Theater at 417 East Douglas is to be renovated and reborn by
April. For the past decade or so it has been notorious as the Vogue Art Theater.
Before that it was known as the State Theater.
WICHITA EAGLE January 9, 1981
The Wichita Association for Repertory Arts has ended its lease with the Marple
Theater and closed its cabaret theater there Sunday with the last performance of
“Godspell.†However it will reopen with most of the same cast on January 22 but will
be produced by the Marple instead of the Wichita Association for Repertory Arts. The
Marple Theater is for sale for $275,000 according to Linda Powell, president of Ms. Marple Production Inc., owner of the theater.
It is now a bar.
Here is a 2007 photo:
View link
According to the Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Beacon;
Emma Dodd was the wife of E. M. Dodd a contractor. They came to Wichita in 1884. She owned considerable real estate including downtown business property.
E. M. Dodd was not the builder of the Marple since he died in 1899 according to Emma Dodd’s obituary in the 1928 Wichita Beacon and the Marple was built in 1908.
This is a recent photo. Looks like the club is now called “Loco Joes” although the “Midnight Blue” website link above still works.
It is now Fat Tony’s Grill and Sports Bar.