Comet Theatre
5915 Prospect Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64130
5915 Prospect Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64130
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Beaufort Theatre, Mary Lue Theatre
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Opened May 1, 1924 as the Beaufort Theatre with Ralph Lewis in “In the Name of the Law”. It went through a couple owners and the theatre was renamed after one of the owners daughter, thus the theatre became the Mary Lue Theatre on December 2, 1931. It was renamed Comet Theatre on December 15, 1951 and closed May 4, 1952. It reopened after being equipped with CinemaScope and finally closed on March 11, 1956 with Joel McCrea in “Wichita” & Tyrone Power in “Untamed”. It briefly became a union meeting hall, a church and finally a bar. It was demolished in 1958.
A single story theatre with a nicely decorated lobby. There was a small amount of decorative plaster work in the lobby and the auditorium. Located near the busy intersection of 59th Street and Prospect Avenue.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
A car wash occupies the site today. Once there was a lounge here on this site which was owned by former Kansas City Chief player Otis Taylor back in the early 70’s.
It was also renamed to the Comet Theatre, I think in the late 1940’s or early 50’s. After it closed, it was used as a union hall. It was a neighborhood theatre for me, and I spent many Friday nights there. I remember the child ticket price was 14 cents. The cashier had a big bowl of pennies to make change with.
I spent many Friday nights at the Mary Lou (or Lue?)in the WW2 years, around 12 years old — pretty sure I saw the Iron Claw serial, and some others. I would walk there from my house on 62nd and Swope Parkway. The crowd was people my age, and popcorn was a big deal — I think we threw it around. And we looked for girls. I would love to see a picture of it!!!
Whoever owned the Mary Lue before Tuesday, May 31, 1949 gave up ownership that day showing John Wayne in WAKE OF THE RED WITCH and Brian Donlevy & Maria Montez in 1941’s SOUTH OF TAHITI. Copy in next day’s space-saver ad: “Closed For Remodeling! Watch For Opening Date”. Re-opened under the same name (“Opens Tonite-6:30-Under New Management!”) on Friday, July 15, 1949, with a cartoon, newsreel, a 3 Stooges short, and double-feature of Esther Williams in TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME and Abbott & Costello in 1942’s PARDON MY SARONG. There were two closed but unannounced days on Saturday-Sunday December 15-16, 1951. On Monday, December 17, 1951 the new ad for the Comet simply states, “Formerly Mary Lue” while presenting William Holden in FORCE OF ARMS and Jeanne Crain in TAKE MY LITTLE GIRL. The final triple bill plus cartoons as the Comet on Sunday, May 4, 1952, was: Abbott & Costello in 1946’s LITTLE GIANT, the East Side Kids in 1944’s BLOCK BUSTERS, and 1949’s RED STALLION OF THE ROCKIES (sic). The next-day’s space-saver ad optimistically states, “Closed Temporarily!,” but the Beaufort/Mary Lue/Comet Theatre had shut down for good.
Opened as Beaufort on May 1st, 1924 and reopened as the Mary Lue on December 2nd, 1931. Both grand opening ads in the photo section.
The Mary Lue fulfilled a 20-year lease under two different operators leaving December 9, 1951. But new operators reopened the venue the following weekend on December 15, 1951 as the Comet Theatre with Judy Canova in “Joan of the Ozarks” and Rex Allen in “Redwood Forest Trial.” By May of 1952, it was apparent that television was taking a toll on neighborhood theaters and the Comet disappeared from view.
But in Comet-like fashion, the theatre did reappear after its longer than anticipated vanishing act of 1952. When it re-emerged it now had widescreen projection to accommodate CinemaScope presentations. But it then vanished permanently with a double feature of Joel McCrae in “Wichita” and Tyrone Power in “Untamed” on March 11, 1956. The building then next served as a union meeting hall, a church, and, finally, the Crystal Palace Bar. On November 16, 1984, the tavern building burned down and what little remained was razed just days later.