Lyric Theatre
1029 Central Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
1029 Central Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
3 people
favorited this theater
The Nobles of the Ararat Temple opened a 3,000 seat auditorium on December 18, 1926.
During World War Two, the building was owned by the American Red Cross. The center was stripped of seats and the building used as a blood collection center for the war effort. After World War Two, the theatre was used for legitimate shows and was renamed Playhouse. and then later the Victoria Theatre.
In 1959, the Durwood Theatre organization(AMC) reopened it as the 700 seat Capri Theatre, with the movie “South Pacific” in Todd-AO. In 1964, the screen was slashed during corporate-union turmoil;Durwood used non-union projectionists and fired striking stagehands.
The Capri Theatre was large, elegant and showy. The accoustics were perfect and the sightlines great. Arched doors lead into the small but impressive lobby. Above the doors is a colonnade of fluted Corinthian columns and windows. Inside, the decor was a combination of conservative burgundy and cream shades.
The Capri Theatre remained a mainstay in Kansas City movie theatres until 1972. Then, opera and symphony displaced movies, and the theatre was renamed the Lyric Theatre. Opera and symphony will move to the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts when it is completed.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber, Howard B. Haas
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Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
In the 1960s, I visited my grandparents every summer in Kansas City. My grandmother took me to the Capri in 1965 for my first roadshow movie – “My Fair Lady”. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. The huge screen, the stereo sound, the gorgeous lobby decorated with flowered parasols, the hardcover souvenir program. What a beautiful theater and a treasured memory.
LEGENDARY FRANKIE VALENS 2006/2007 Oldies concert tour
B U L L E T I N – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Book Frankie now – while there are concert dates open……..”
INTRODUCING,
Frankie Valens
Former legendary pop-singer FRANKIE VALENS, who toured in the late 60s and early 70s is back. Frankie has returned to provide entertainment with an ‘oldies’ show featuring songs from the 50s, 60s and early 70s and includes his recordings of “This Magic Moment,” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”
Visit www.frankievalens.com (complete with sounds bites)
Frankie loves to entertain the crowds. The crowds can dance or just listen to the ‘golden oldies’ sung by what has been described as the ‘golden voice’ of FRANKIE VALENS. Frankie’s wife Phyllis joins him in singing famous duet songs from the past.
Frankie has been in concert with such notable acts as: THE BYRDS, CRYSTAL GALE, THE PLATTERS AND THE BOXTOPS. Frankie has appeared at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City with former President Reagan; the Waupaka Performing Art Center in Wisconsin; and the famous Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas where Red Skelton appeared.
Note: Frankie Valens will be inducted into the Music Hall of Fame later this year in Wichita, Kansas at the Museum of World Treasures, who is planning a musical exhibit and creating a special CD edition of Frankie’s greatest recordings.
BOOKING OLDIE CONCERTS FOR 2006/2007
Call 316-789-0051
Please call or e-mail us to let us know if any of these dates are available: 316-789-0051 or
From the offices of
FVM Headquarters
PMB # 322
620 N Rock Road, Ste 230
Derby, KS 67037
316-789-0051 or
913-378-6874
www.frankievalens.com
Frankie & Phyllis Valens
This theater needs some updating. Here is the history page from the Lyric website.
The Lyric Theatre building has been sold to a local data processing and real estate company, DST. No plans have been announced for when the Kansas City Lyric Opera moves out of the building to take up residence in the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Here’s a recent picture of the old Capri.
View link
This site has several vintage photos of the Lyric, along with other KC theatres -
View link
The address should be 1029 Central Street. Lyric Opera of Kansas City website
Any one remember where these road shows played in Kansas City?
Camelot, Paint Your Wagon, West Side Story.
For some reason, I believe West Side was at the Plaza. Anyone able to confirm? I didn’t move to KC until 1976 and that was after the days of the road show.
I know the Capri was home to Cleopatra, My Fair Lady and the Midland had The Sound of Music and Funny Girl.
The Kansas City Star recently published an article stating that the University of Missouri-Kansas City is exploring moving the Conservatory of Music and Dance from the campus to downtown’s Lyric Theater, and use it as a student rehearsal and performance space.
anyone know where the roadshow engagement of “Star!” played in Kansas City?