Ritz Theatre

500 N. Washington Street,
Chillicothe, MO 64601

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50sSNIPES
50sSNIPES on February 13, 2024 at 3:58 pm

Once operated by Fox Midwest Theatres.

SethG
SethG on March 6, 2019 at 2:48 pm

According to the 1916 Sanborn map, there was a theater at 505. In the picture with the wrecked cars, I think that would be the far left building. If we can find a name, we sort of have a picture.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on May 25, 2015 at 8:59 pm

Architected by R. Warren Roberts who got to convert the 1895 Masonic Temple into the Ritz, the theater’s grand opening was June 3, 1931. It launched with “The Millionaire” and its first operator was billionaire Howard Hughes and his Hughes-Franklin circuit. But the Hughes-Franklin midwestern circuit would be dissolved in November of 1931 and Clarence Shultz was the new operator.

The Ritz received an air conditioning system in 1940. On May 29, 1955, the theater closed for regular business opening for Tuesday “Shopper Matinees” in the summer and closing as kids went back to school. Commonwealth Theaters of Kansas City bought the Ritz and the Ben Bolt in Chillicothe late in 1957. However, the circuit appears to decide against re-opening the Ritz. But the theater would get one more shot at cinematic glory. The Ritz re-opened April 12, 1985 with “Missing in Action 2” on screen one and “Dune” on screen two. And the Ritz closed as a twin shut down by the city on May 24, 1985 with “Gymkata” and “Just One of the Guys.”