Ben Bolt Theatre
828 Washington Street,
Chillicothe,
MO
64601
828 Washington Street,
Chillicothe,
MO
64601
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The Ben Bolt Theatre was opened in 1949.
Unfortunately, this late Art Moderne gem was demolished in 1999.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 20 comments)
This is a correction of my posting of 11/20/05:
www.i8.photobucket.com/albums/a18/Warrengwhiz/benbolt.jpg
This is a 1950s photo of the Ben Bolt Theater. Click on the photo to expand it.
I was news editor of the Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune and watched with dismay out my window as the wrecking ball brought down the Ben Bolt. It was a fabulous building and from what the man said who was contracted to take it down, it was a well-built structure.
I edited a history book (Dateline-Livingston County / A look at local history) in 2001 and, of course, included some information (several news stories) and a photo of the Ben Bolt. I am, again, publishing another history book similar to the first Dateline and am looking for a photograph or two that I could include in the book. I’m under the gun now and would need any submissions before mid-July 2007. The book is due at the publishers by Oct. 1. Anyone who would like to help may reply to I really like the full color photo of (if I remember correctly), Max Thomas in front of the building. The picture was taken at night with the colorful neon lights behind. We used that photograph in our special tribute to the Ben Bolt in 1999. It is a shame that it was torn down. From what I have learned through reading old newspaper articles, it certainly was a jewel for the community. (I didn’t arrive in Chillicothe until 1992)
After a long day at the office today, I just typed in “Ben Bolt Chillicothe” and stumbled across this website. Thanks for reading.
Cathy
So what has been built on the site, since the Ben Bolt was demolished?
How could I purchase a photo of Mr. Max Thomas in front of the Ben Bolt(the picture that dateline describes in the above post)? I came across a picture of the Ben Bolt on the CinemaTour website and would like to add it to my collection
Here are two 1984 photos:
Day Photo
Night Photo
According to the Boller Brothers architectural records, Carl Boller died in 1946 and the Ben Bolt was designed by Robert O. Boller and Dietz Lusk Jr.
The July 2, 1949, issue of Boxoffice has an architect’s rendering of the proposed Ben Bolt Theatre. It, too, attributes the design to Boller & Lusk.
Unless I missed it somewhere up above BOXOFFICE reported the Ben Bolt was to be transformed into a Triple Theatre.The Downstairs theatre will have 350 seats and the two upstairs theatres will seat 200.Dolby Sound.Suppose to be ready for mid summer 1985. Source BOXOFFICE June 1985.
Streamline Moderne was the thing in the 1940’s,very nice marquee for all you marquee people like me.