The history is wrong. This building is not on the 1911 map. It does appear on the 1923 map. The 1914-15 AMPD lists a Casino on Railroad Ave, which is the old name for Pennsylvania Ave, and may have been the same as the Avenue.
SethG
commented about
Theateron
Nov 12, 2025 at 8:36 am
Typo in the third sentence. First ‘and’ should be ‘an’.
That definitely sounds plausible. It for sure was never an opera house. There was a very early opera house in the two story building at the corner, but it closed long before movies.
The April 1914 map does not show an airdome at this address. There is a small wooden shop at 215, but the rest of the lots between 211 and 221 are empty. However, that map does still show the original location at 110-112 as operational. Either the chronology is off, or the 215 address may have been an error.
This building was constructed between 1884 and 1887. It was a large two story brick building with a central stair. The 1908 map shows 114 vacant. It seems that it still exists, under a repulsive remodel which destroyed the facades of several historic buildings. This space is a martial arts school.
This history is wrong. Both the Cozy and Isis are listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The Cozy is listed at this address, while the Isis is unspecified.
There’s also a lot of confusing information about other theaters which contributes nothing to this listing. It’s not clear where they were, or why they are mentioned in passing.
Note that the Garden is listed in the 1914-15 AMPD, along with the Auditorium and Opera House. Not sure what the opera house was, but the Garden may have originally been an Airdome, or possibly a small theater near the Auditorium. Both are shown on the 1912 map.
The addresses shifted a bit during the theater’s existence. The original address was 215. This theater was located in a fine three story limestone building constructed sometime between 1884 and 1892. The 1912 map shows dry goods and clothing sold in the western storefront. It’s still listed in the 1957 Yearbook, but was demolished to build a drab and depressing bank which might date to around 1960.
The KHRI says the theater at 108 was the Electric, but this may have been an AKA. There are only two theaters on the April 1914 map, and the other one has to have been the Princess.
Still a dance hall on the 1944 map. This is now office space for a title company.
Just for history, this building was constructed in 1923, after the prior 1901 Odd Fellows hall burned. I have a picture which I will add.
The KHRI entry is here: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=127-1180-00049
I think this has to have been the theater at 108. It was located in a building constructed between 1900 and 1908, when the map shows a theater there. It doesn’t appear to have had anything to do with the FOE, and the second floor was used by the masons as an expansion of their lodge hall next door, which was built in 1883. The theater is still shown on the 1914 map, but the 1922 map shows a bakery there. The building today has no entry, and is part of the antique store in the old masonic lodge.
I’m not sure which theater this is supposed to be, but the address is wrong. There was a theater at 100, in a building which has been demolished, and one at 108. Assuming it’s the demolished theater, it was located in the eastern storefront of an opera house that was constructed in 1887. The opera house was on the second floor, with retail below. The 1908 map shows a pool hall and bowling alley in the space. The theater is shown on the 1914 map, and the 1922 map shows it once again a pool room. The building is still shown on the 1944 map, but was replaced around 1960(?) by an ugly one story department store.
By the way, for Joe’s long ago comment about the opera house - I don’t think it ever showed movies, but the ground floor had a theater in it, most likely the Princess. The building was demolished long ago.
The marquee was removed sometime after 2016. I was incredibly stupid, and did not take a picture with the storefronts to the sides, which are obviously part of the structure.
Correct address is 124-126 S 6th. This was originally the Grand Opera House, built sometime before 1885. It appears that it was remodeled sometime around 1920, and used by the Knights of Pythias (who presumably took over the old second story opera house). It survived into the 1970s, when it was a bowling alley. The entire block has been destroyed. After being a vacant lot for many years, the site is now a cheap prefab shed fire station. KHRI entry for a neighboring building with a picture of the block: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=139-4210-00007
Typo in the owner’s name. Do we have any information at all? The dates are vague. This first appears in 1936, and is still listed in 1956. Likely demolished, there are not too many old buildings left in the small downtown.
Those cruddy shingles have been removed from the building that had them, but the theater was at the vacant lot between the little office and the nice old auto service building with the wood and glass doors.
The history is wrong. This building is not on the 1911 map. It does appear on the 1923 map. The 1914-15 AMPD lists a Casino on Railroad Ave, which is the old name for Pennsylvania Ave, and may have been the same as the Avenue.
Typo in the third sentence. First ‘and’ should be ‘an’.
This theater has suffered several terrible remodels. It had an ugly 1960s storefront, but has now been incorporated into a bank.
Typo in the name, it’s an Airdome, not an Airdrome.
That definitely sounds plausible. It for sure was never an opera house. There was a very early opera house in the two story building at the corner, but it closed long before movies.
The April 1914 map does not show an airdome at this address. There is a small wooden shop at 215, but the rest of the lots between 211 and 221 are empty. However, that map does still show the original location at 110-112 as operational. Either the chronology is off, or the 215 address may have been an error.
This building was constructed between 1884 and 1887. It was a large two story brick building with a central stair. The 1908 map shows 114 vacant. It seems that it still exists, under a repulsive remodel which destroyed the facades of several historic buildings. This space is a martial arts school.
This history is wrong. Both the Cozy and Isis are listed in the 1914-15 AMPD. The Cozy is listed at this address, while the Isis is unspecified.
There’s also a lot of confusing information about other theaters which contributes nothing to this listing. It’s not clear where they were, or why they are mentioned in passing.
Typo in the name ‘Theatder’
Note that the Garden is listed in the 1914-15 AMPD, along with the Auditorium and Opera House. Not sure what the opera house was, but the Garden may have originally been an Airdome, or possibly a small theater near the Auditorium. Both are shown on the 1912 map.
The addresses shifted a bit during the theater’s existence. The original address was 215. This theater was located in a fine three story limestone building constructed sometime between 1884 and 1892. The 1912 map shows dry goods and clothing sold in the western storefront. It’s still listed in the 1957 Yearbook, but was demolished to build a drab and depressing bank which might date to around 1960.
Been a raggedy little storefront church for years. I’d love to see that nasty plywood facade sent to the dump.
KHRI entry with some old pictures of the building: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=017-478
The theater was located on the right side.
And indeed it looks like 1911 might be the opening date. Thanks for finding that!
The KHRI says the theater at 108 was the Electric, but this may have been an AKA. There are only two theaters on the April 1914 map, and the other one has to have been the Princess.
Still a dance hall on the 1944 map. This is now office space for a title company.
Just for history, this building was constructed in 1923, after the prior 1901 Odd Fellows hall burned. I have a picture which I will add. The KHRI entry is here: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=127-1180-00049
I think this has to have been the theater at 108. It was located in a building constructed between 1900 and 1908, when the map shows a theater there. It doesn’t appear to have had anything to do with the FOE, and the second floor was used by the masons as an expansion of their lodge hall next door, which was built in 1883. The theater is still shown on the 1914 map, but the 1922 map shows a bakery there. The building today has no entry, and is part of the antique store in the old masonic lodge.
I’m not sure which theater this is supposed to be, but the address is wrong. There was a theater at 100, in a building which has been demolished, and one at 108. Assuming it’s the demolished theater, it was located in the eastern storefront of an opera house that was constructed in 1887. The opera house was on the second floor, with retail below. The 1908 map shows a pool hall and bowling alley in the space. The theater is shown on the 1914 map, and the 1922 map shows it once again a pool room. The building is still shown on the 1944 map, but was replaced around 1960(?) by an ugly one story department store.
By the way, for Joe’s long ago comment about the opera house - I don’t think it ever showed movies, but the ground floor had a theater in it, most likely the Princess. The building was demolished long ago.
The marquee was removed sometime after 2016. I was incredibly stupid, and did not take a picture with the storefronts to the sides, which are obviously part of the structure.
KHRI entry for this building, with some historic photos, one of which shows the Cozy: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=139-4210-00019
Correct address is 124-126 S 6th. This was originally the Grand Opera House, built sometime before 1885. It appears that it was remodeled sometime around 1920, and used by the Knights of Pythias (who presumably took over the old second story opera house). It survived into the 1970s, when it was a bowling alley. The entire block has been destroyed. After being a vacant lot for many years, the site is now a cheap prefab shed fire station. KHRI entry for a neighboring building with a picture of the block: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=139-4210-00007
Typo in the owner’s name. Do we have any information at all? The dates are vague. This first appears in 1936, and is still listed in 1956. Likely demolished, there are not too many old buildings left in the small downtown.
Those cruddy shingles have been removed from the building that had them, but the theater was at the vacant lot between the little office and the nice old auto service building with the wood and glass doors.
The KHRI entry, which has next to no information, but does include a picture, is here: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=013-2560-00047