Chief Theater
122 E. Main Street,
Coldwater,
KS
67029
122 E. Main Street,
Coldwater,
KS
67029
1 person
favorited this theater
The Chief Theater radiates a nostalgic charm from the days of silent movies, newsreels, and nickelodeons. In its prime, the Chief Theater featured movies every night of the week, weekend matinees, and was frequently filled to its seating capacity of 300 people.
In the late-1940’s the theater was decorated in a Native American theme with colorful murals in the lobby and auditorium which have been preserved to this day.
Currently operated and restored by the Chamber of Commerce, the Chief Theater features current release movies every weekend, projected by a new state-of-the-art projection system.
Contributed by
Paul Salley
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here is a 2006 photo of the Chief Theater.
This is another photo of the Chief Theater.
Also known as the Gossett and listed on the National Register:
Chief Theater (added 2005 – Building – #05000010)
Also known as Gossett Theater
122 E. Main St., Coldwater
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Gossett, Paul E., Howard, Thomas H.
Architectural Style: Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Other
Area of Significance: Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture
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
Here is a photo of the Chief Theater.
Here is the Chief at night.
The Chief was built in 1928 and was restored and operated by the Chamber of Commerce, showing current releases every week end.
Another photo is here.
Thomas H. Howard was the contractor. Paul E. Gossett was the architect. Another aka name given is Stark’s Comanche Theater. National Register of Historic Places registration form
Stark’s Comanche Theater:
“In 1940 Gossett sold the theater to Bernard Stark and Victor and Donita Stark and they held a contest to select a new name for the theater. The winner, Mrs. C. G. Lyon won twenty free movies for her suggestion of "Comanche” and the theater became known as Stark’s Comanche Theater. The Starks owned the theater for six years before selling it to Sol and Lucille Frank. In 1947 the Franks remodeled the theater and renamed it the Chief".
Listed in the 1945 Film Daily as the 350 seat Comanche Theater.
Comanche should be an aka name. This is a recent photo of the Chief.