Linwood Theatre

3036 Prospect Avenue,
Kansas City, MO 64128

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Midwest Theatres

Architects: Carl Boller

Firms: Boller Brothers

Nearby Theaters

Linwood Theater, 1940

One of the many neighborhood theatres located along Prospect Avenue in Kansas City. It was just five blocks north of the Emerald Theatre. The Linwood Theatre opened December 16, 1915. It was remodeled in 1922 and closed in the late-1960’s. It seated 796.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 21, 2008 at 5:07 pm

There is a public library at 3050 Prospect, then a parking lot, then a newer building around where 3036 would be. Closer to 3020 is an older building, but it looks a little small to hold 800 people. I can’t confirm that the theater is demolished, but if I find anything else I will pass it on.

RobbKCity
RobbKCity on August 3, 2011 at 11:08 pm

Here is a link to a book describing the theater.

http://books.google.com/books?id=saMbAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1641&lpg=PA1641&dq=Linwood+Theater+Kansas+City&source=bl&ots=Gbn6VexfVS&sig=ZqUMeezpCRo4H55K4F0FCHS-eXk&hl=en&ei=oTU6TvqvCMOEtged1_2YAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=Linwood%20Theater%20Kansas%20City&f=false

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on January 18, 2012 at 3:07 am

Here is a hyperlink to the article RobbKCity mentioned in the previous comment. It is from the March 11, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World. There are small photos of the facade and the auditorium. The article doesn’t give an exact opening date, but implies that the Linwood had opened not too long before the article was published.

The April 6, 1922, issue of Manufacturers Record ran this item dated Kansas City: “Capitol Enterprises will expend $50,000 to remodel Linwood Theater, 3034 Prospect Ave.”

None of the buildings on this block now resemble the Linwood Theatre building in the 1916 MPW photo. I’m quite sure the theater has been demolished.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on November 23, 2015 at 7:28 am

Carl Boller architected the Linwood Theatre built in 1910 for Jos. B. Fischer, C. Lloyd Hinshaw, and Elroy R. Parker. The lineage of the theatre actually dates back to the latter two owners' Linwood Garden open air theater two blocks away. Deciding to go year-round, the trio hired Stevens Construction who was the general contractor with brickwork by J.J. Hoffman, steelwork by Kansas City Construction Steel Co. and concrete by Gilsonite Construction at a cost of $25,000.

In 1922, the inexpensive neighborhood house was completely gutted leaving just the walls and a new $75,000 upgrade. It included a Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra organ and all new seating layout. Capitol Enterprises Circuit built the new theater with 1,400 seats hiring W.O. Lenhart as its first manager.

WTKFLHN
WTKFLHN on January 16, 2018 at 1:46 pm

The Linwood was also operated as a Fox Midwest theater in the 1940’s and 1950’s

rivest266
rivest266 on April 22, 2018 at 7:39 am

This opened on December 16th, 1915. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

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