Royal Theatre
612 - 614 Commercial Street,
Atchison,
KS
66002
612 - 614 Commercial Street,
Atchison,
KS
66002
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One of Atchison’s early theatres. It opened in the early-1900’s. The first mention I found of this theatre was in 1911, though it probably opened earlier.
Originally the Royal Theatre was a single screen with 692 seats. It was later twinned. At one point in its life, the theatre operated as a Saturday night country music opry but with only mild success. The music was said to be great but the audience was often too small to pay for the show’s cast. The owners kept the show going at their own expense. Currently the theatre shows first and second run features.
The exterior is somewhat simple but elegant in brick and white stucco with subtle ornamentation and a few finials and arc’s at the top of the facade. The building seems representative of Spanish or Moorish architecture. There is a very simple awning style marquee a large decorative “R” tile on the stucco above the marquee.
Contributed by
Clay Jarratt
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
A Wurlitzer theater organ opus 665 style “B” special was installed in the Royal Theater on 6/21/1923.
The Royal is in sad shape and further ruined by the city making a mall out of downtown. A two block stretch, including the Royal, has a cement canopy over the sidewalk and required removal of the Royal’s marquee. The street has been replaced with trees and grass. I know of other cities that have tried this and it does not do a thing to attract people. It is summer right now in Atchison and there is virtually nobody on the 2 block stretch of mall. The stores on both sides of the street have rear entrances that are used more than the mall entrances. The Royal busted through the rear wall and is using an entrance there. [url=http://www.itemspecialty.com/movie/royal_theater.jpg]
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According to Kansas Attractions the Royal has been completely renovated with the latest movies showing on two screens. The picture that they feature on their web site of the Royal shows it to be well redone.
The entrance is now at the back of the theater because the city screwed up the downtown streets and everyone uses what was the alley to access stores. So now when you walk into the twined main floor, you walk in under the (small) screen so the screen is way up in the air. The few times I have gone to torture a viewing I sit in the last row and I still have to look up. I can not image sitting up close, you would get a stiff neck. Sound is not very good and the wall between the two screens is thin so you hear what is going on in the other screen. Might look nice in a picture but it is not a good movie experience. The old balcony has a huge wall to wall screen the width of the original building. But since there are stairs, it is not handicapped accessible and no longer used.
I saw the first Harry Potter film here….a very cute theater
No showtimes or listings for this theatre, closed?
Tel. No. for the royal is 913.367.0222 Yes Mike the Royal is still open, playing “Skyfall” & “The Hobbit”
This theatre does very little marketing. It could sell more tickets if it posts showtimes online.
Mike, in a small town with a population of around 10,000 advertising in the local paper is really all that is needed.