This is not demolished. The ugly sheet metal facade for the theater has been removed. The building first appears on the 1923 map, although it might be older since the south side of the street does not appear on the 1912 map. It was auto repair at least through 1947. It’s now the offices of a chamber of commerce type organization for Aggieville.
I’ve added a 1922 map view showing the auditorium was then only behind the right (east) side of the building. It notes a capacity of 400, so it does seem likely that a larger auditorium was part of the 1930s remodel.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 21, 2024 at 5:19 am
The address is wrong. This has been demolished, wherever it was. The auto parts store is in a building from the 1920s, but there is a big ugly cheap Auto-CAD city hall across the street.
I think it may have been under the western piece of that. The 1911 map shows a two story concrete block hotel directly across from the Welch building, which houses the auto parts store. I think we see the western edge of that in the picture. The address would perhaps have been 815 or 817, if that’s correct.
I found an old postcard (1970-ish) showing the Sigma, which seems to be called the Sigma I. Definitely an older theater. I can’t say whether it’s the original or a 1940s replacement. Very bland flat beige plaster facade and a drab little marquee.
Joe, I just added a theater at 6th and Broadway. That can’t have become the Apollo, which is much closer to State, nearly 2 blocks away. The problem with the Lyric/Iris ID is that it was closed by 1917, and there’s nothing else on either the 1911 or 1917 maps that’s anywhere close to that intersection.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 11, 2024 at 8:20 pm
Note that this street was called Broadway until sometime around 1920.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 11, 2024 at 8:19 pm
Note that while this theater was operating, this was Commercial St, but became M by 1923.
The 1917 map shows a theater two doors east of the Elks building on the corner. It was built sometime after 1911. The address is 229-231. My guess is the big auto-CAD lump replaced either that building or a 1940s replacement.
The KS Historical Society claims this was called the Electrodome, and that the building (but perhaps not the theater?) was owned by G.A. Chapin. That may be one of the other two early theaters in town, one of which was next door.
The first owners were Sam and Katherine Blair, who came to town from Mena, AR in 1920 to run a different theater, which they then replaced with this much larger one. They leased it to Commonwealth in 1941, and sold it in 1966.
The building does not appear on the 1911 map, and was likely built to be a theater. Sometime between 1911 and 1923 the street was renamed from Broadway to 19th.
I am dubious of the later history. The 1933 map shows this divided into two stores. It had likely closed permanently by then. I added a view from the 1923 map.
The address must be something like 305. The house across the street is 304. This was the Ruritan Club, but is now derelict junk storage. It may be used by the farm supply operation next door.
From an old picture, this was almost certainly open before 1920. It originally had an open entry area with a ticket booth. This was then enclosed with glass block in a later remodel. I don’t know why they covered the glass block in that trashy siding. It opened as the Morris, and was later known as the Blair before becoming the Ute. It seems to have been built by J.P. Fair, who ran the Mankato National Bank. Original capacity was 324, and the first managers were N.B and V.D. Morris. Mont J. Green was the architect.
History is wrong. This building isn’t on the 1911 map. Address should be 203. I can’t see an address anywhere in my pictures or on streetview, but the KS Historical Society has the bank on the corner at 201. Oddly, they don’t even have a FB page, but a group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53520821624/
Demolished between 2008 and 2016. The address is either wrong or was changed. Abandoned jewelry store at 110, 112 was a dumpy little one story thing, theater was a seedy gray painted wreck at 114.
There was never a Family Dollar here. The theater entrance has been filled in, and it’s part of the hotel building, which is now low-income apartments. Probably an office of some sort in this location.
This is not demolished. The ugly sheet metal facade for the theater has been removed. The building first appears on the 1923 map, although it might be older since the south side of the street does not appear on the 1912 map. It was auto repair at least through 1947. It’s now the offices of a chamber of commerce type organization for Aggieville.
This needs to be changed to demolished. The building was torn down sometime between 2007 and 2013.
I’ve added a 1922 map view showing the auditorium was then only behind the right (east) side of the building. It notes a capacity of 400, so it does seem likely that a larger auditorium was part of the 1930s remodel.
The 1901 map shows a drug store here.
The address is wrong. This has been demolished, wherever it was. The auto parts store is in a building from the 1920s, but there is a big ugly cheap Auto-CAD city hall across the street.
I think it may have been under the western piece of that. The 1911 map shows a two story concrete block hotel directly across from the Welch building, which houses the auto parts store. I think we see the western edge of that in the picture. The address would perhaps have been 815 or 817, if that’s correct.
This theater does not appear on the August 1911 Sanborn, but there is a large empty lot which extends down through 507.
Website is: https://www.senecatwintheatre-ks.com/
I was in town twice, and it was nasty weather both times. Never got a good picture of this one.
I found an old postcard (1970-ish) showing the Sigma, which seems to be called the Sigma I. Definitely an older theater. I can’t say whether it’s the original or a 1940s replacement. Very bland flat beige plaster facade and a drab little marquee.
Joe, I just added a theater at 6th and Broadway. That can’t have become the Apollo, which is much closer to State, nearly 2 blocks away. The problem with the Lyric/Iris ID is that it was closed by 1917, and there’s nothing else on either the 1911 or 1917 maps that’s anywhere close to that intersection.
Note that this street was called Broadway until sometime around 1920.
Note that while this theater was operating, this was Commercial St, but became M by 1923.
The 1917 map shows a theater two doors east of the Elks building on the corner. It was built sometime after 1911. The address is 229-231. My guess is the big auto-CAD lump replaced either that building or a 1940s replacement.
The KS Historical Society claims this was called the Electrodome, and that the building (but perhaps not the theater?) was owned by G.A. Chapin. That may be one of the other two early theaters in town, one of which was next door.
The first owners were Sam and Katherine Blair, who came to town from Mena, AR in 1920 to run a different theater, which they then replaced with this much larger one. They leased it to Commonwealth in 1941, and sold it in 1966.
The building does not appear on the 1911 map, and was likely built to be a theater. Sometime between 1911 and 1923 the street was renamed from Broadway to 19th.
I am dubious of the later history. The 1933 map shows this divided into two stores. It had likely closed permanently by then. I added a view from the 1923 map.
This has not been demolished. It’s a mini-storage place.
The address must be something like 305. The house across the street is 304. This was the Ruritan Club, but is now derelict junk storage. It may be used by the farm supply operation next door.
From an old picture, this was almost certainly open before 1920. It originally had an open entry area with a ticket booth. This was then enclosed with glass block in a later remodel. I don’t know why they covered the glass block in that trashy siding. It opened as the Morris, and was later known as the Blair before becoming the Ute. It seems to have been built by J.P. Fair, who ran the Mankato National Bank. Original capacity was 324, and the first managers were N.B and V.D. Morris. Mont J. Green was the architect.
History is wrong. This building isn’t on the 1911 map. Address should be 203. I can’t see an address anywhere in my pictures or on streetview, but the KS Historical Society has the bank on the corner at 201. Oddly, they don’t even have a FB page, but a group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53520821624/
Address is wrong? I think this is 115. Definitely not demolished. Seems to be used as offices.
Demolished between 2008 and 2016. The address is either wrong or was changed. Abandoned jewelry store at 110, 112 was a dumpy little one story thing, theater was a seedy gray painted wreck at 114.
Thanks for finding the name!
This is not demolished. The only thing gone is that revolting street level brick garbage. The building has been restored, and is a restaurant.
There was never a Family Dollar here. The theater entrance has been filled in, and it’s part of the hotel building, which is now low-income apartments. Probably an office of some sort in this location.