Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre
508 S. Main Street,
Moscow,
ID
83843
508 S. Main Street,
Moscow,
ID
83843
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The city of Moscow, with a population of 18,500, is the home of the University of Idaho.
The Kenworthy was opened in 1926 by Milburn Kenworthy as a vaudeville and silent movie house and it later became a first-run theater during Hollywood’s golden age.
A 1949 remodeling with a new facade and marquee brought the theater up-to-date for its role as Moscow’s finest showplace.
After finishing its lease with Carmike Cinemas in the late 80s, it was given by the Kenworthy family to the Moscow Community Theater.
In 1999 the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Inc. was created to oversee its restoration and operation. In late 2000, after a major renovation, it began to show classic movies and stage live theater productions by the Moscow Community Theater.
While undergoing restoration, the Kenworthy will be available for use by the community and at times open for viewing to the public. The Kenworthy is next door to the Nuart, another classic theater, and in November of 2001 both theaters were placed on The National Register of Historic Places.
Contributed by
Ron Pierce
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Style should be updated to Spanish.
Old photos at this link:
View link
Added to the National Register of Historical Places in 2001
Kenworthy Theatre (added 2001 – Building – #01001305)
508 S. Main St., Moscow
Historic Significance: Event
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater
Address is South Main St.
Here is a photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2fcyrq
Here is a photo.
There are some September 2007 photos on this page:
http://tinyurl.com/5tp7or
And more photos can be seen here.
The year given for these photos is 1984:
Photo1
Photo2
From 1952 a photo postcard view of the Kenworthy and Nuart Theaters in Moscow.
Update on listing for Kenworthy. The information you have in the listing is often out of date or inaccurate. The listing should read:
The Kenworthy Theater was the flagship of the Kenworthy family’s theaters holdings in Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington. In 2000, It was given by the Kenworthy family to the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Inc, a community group created to oversee its restoration and operation. The Moscow Community Theater has used the Kenworthy Theater for some of its performances.
The theater both rents the venue for all performing arts, from dramatic theater, dance, concerts, lectures, and films; as well presents all types of films (independent, art, foreign, Hollywood( individually and in festivals (Native American, French, Food, Fifties).
The theater, with its magnificent marquee in downtown Moscow, is the center of performing arts in this university town and provides a gathering place for people of the area, the University of Idaho, and Washington State University.
Submitted: Ivar Nelson, Treasurer, Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre, Inc. (KPAC)