Wareham Theatre
410 Poyntz Avenue,
Manhattan,
KS
66502
410 Poyntz Avenue,
Manhattan,
KS
66502
2 people
favorited this theater
Operating prior to 1941. By the late-1940’s it was taken over by Commonwealth Amusement. Still open, it appears to be a dinner theater. The building next door with the balconies is the Wareham Hotel which is still open.
Beautiful refinished oak doors and, (it has to be) the original snack bar with its procelien front. Seats are gone and have been replaced with tables, for dinner. This theater was one of the old Commonwealth houses.
Contributed by
Joel Weide
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Recent comments (view all 27 comments)
WOW! The Wareham is just like I remember my Mom describing it to me when I was a little boy. This was my Grandfathers Hotel & Cinema.
My Mom was Sandra Wareham. Thank you, for perseving this historical
Cinema.
ronkimball, the Sky-Vue Drive-In Theater was located on the southwest side of Manhattan. I was the projectionist there for a short while in the summer of 1966. There was, however, another drive-in (The Edgewood) on the east side of Manhattan on Highway 24. I believe it was destroyed by fire in the 1960’s. As memory serves, there was a trailer park nearby.
There were two other theaters in Manhattan during the early 60’s that haven’t been mentioned above; the State and the Co-Ed.
Hi Wareham. I have great memories of your family’s Wareham Theater as a boy. I attended my first movie there. I remember being overwhelmed by the size of the auditorium and the “magic” of the huge picture being shown from that “little room” way up at the back of the balcony. When the balcony was open, I used to sit in a seat directly below the viewing window the projectionist (Olin Remmert at the time) would sit at while the reels were running. I would sneak peeks into the room and watch the projectionist at work. Eventually, he invited me in for a look and this is when my interest in theaters and the projection room blossomed. Do you remember Harry Wareham’s home on Poyntz Avenue (Tanglewood)?
Hey Hendy, thanks! Was the Edgewood DI was on US 24 at Walters Dr? And the Sky Vue was at the corner of Claffin Rd and Browning Ave?
No, neither location is correct. Both of the areas you reference are on the west and northwest side of Manhattan. The theaters were not located there. The Edgewood was about 2 miles east of Manhattan just north of Rt. 24 near Bob’s Motel (now also gone). The Sky-Vue was on the southwest part of town. The theater was bounded by Rt. 18, Rosencutter Rd., and Stagg Hill Rd. Go to Mapquest and you’ll see the area I’m talking about. The Sky-Vue land was used for a flea/farmers market for awhile, eventually sold and developed.
Thanks again, Hendy. I have pinpointed the Sky Vue, but am not sure about the Edgewood. What street/road was the Edgewood on? Perhaps on/near McCall & Kretschmer Dr?
You are getting closer. Just a bit farther to the east on US24 and across the Blue River. The theater was located on the north side of the highway. Using Mapquest, I cannot find any street/road names that would be helpful but what I’m describing is the general area. I Googled Bob’s Motel (right next to the Edgewood) and found an old postcard with a picture of the motel. It describes being next door to a theater but no solid address given.
I just looked at the postcard again and I believe I can make out the Edgewood’s screen tower just above the motel roof and behind the trees. Here is a link to the postcard: View link
Thanks yet again, Hendy. How far east of the river was the Edgewood? Do you know what occupies the the former Edgewood & Bob’s properties now?
I’m afraid I’ve reached the limits of my memory. I remember, as a boy and teenager, crossing the river and seeing the drive-in. How far east, I’m not sure but certainly not too far. Venturing a guess, I would say maybe a mile or two at the most east of the river.
I’m not sure what is on the property now but I know Manhattan has expanded somewhat in that direction (more so to the west). I do get back there occasionally and will check it out and post back