The Liberty Theatre launched May 26, 1919 with “The Silver King” in the Doran Building. Manager L.H. Hutton then repositioned his Grand Theatre for part-time operation. Regular films stopped on February 19, 1956 with Edward G. Robinson in “Illegal” although events are scheduled thereafter. In 1963, the theatre had become the live music venue, The Rhythm Room.
The Roxy opened July 14, 1935 with Al Jolson in “Go Into Your Dance.” The theatre was twinned. It closed and was briefly reopened in January and February of 2012 as the Roxy Club, a live venue. It was offered for sale for $185,000 and from the real estate ads was significantly altered for its next use.
It was named posthumously for the head of the Liberty Theatre chain, J. Claude Keller. The theatre was destroyed June 27, 1957 in the devastating Hurricane Audrey that claimed 500 lives.
The Bijou opened in this location on May 20, 1907 with the films, “Julia at the Barracks” and “Young Tramps.” The theatre moved from 117 East Second Street where it had operated prior. Two years later, on May 17, 1909, new operators called the theatre the Yale Theatre. On July 10, 1909, the Yale closed. New operators took on the location and refreshed the interior and exterior of the venue.
On September 29, 1909, those new operators opened the theatre under the name of the Crystal Theatre. In 1929, the Crystal switched to Vitaphone for sound films. Listings are soon discontinued. On February 7, 1935, the theatre changed names to the Plaza Theatre after a $25,000 makeover under Fox Circuit ownership relaunching with the film, “Rumba.”
The Tauy Theatre opened January 22, 1941. It was named for John Tecumseh “Tauy” Jones, an early pioneer in the area who was an interpreter for the Pottawatomie Indians and became one of their leaders. The name was selected in a contest in which local people submitted potential names for the new theatre. A statute in Tauy’s name is on the city’s courthouse grounds.
The Tauy closed due to a fire on December 5, 1959 after the last film shown: “Odds Against Tomorrow.” Repairs scheduled didn’t occur. The location was retrofitted for a catalog store that launched there in 1962. The theatre was never known as the “Tony” or the “Tany.”
The building housing this theatre dated back to August 3, 1887 as the Masonic Lodge building. It then served as the Ellsworth Opera House. As a film venue, the Golden Belt Theatre and skating rink opened on October 13, 1915. Its original name is for Ellsworth’s place in the wheat belt and associated Golden Belt Railroad line and the Golden Belt auto route that was created in 1910/1 running through Ellsworth.
Late in 1929, Sherman Wiggins converted to Western Electric Sound who likely was convinced by Western Electric’s business ally, Bell Telephone, to change the name of the theatre to the Golden Bell for the sound era. The theatre would get a major refresh in 1947. Under new operators, the venue’s name was shortened to the Bell Theatre closing in 1974. It became a lounge in 1980. Just short of its 100th anniversary, a fire destroyed the building on October 19, 1983, which was being readied for a renovated club space.
The State Theatre is located at 617 Broadway Street. It was the second State Theatre in town. It launched April 6, 1949 with “Father Was a Fullback.” The current theatre has 302 seats.
The first State Theatre was at 519 Broadway opening in 1928 closing 20 years later. It was the one with 378 seats.
The official website with showtimes for the current State Theatre can be found at its Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/State-Theatre-Larned-Kansas-273849419335/
The local paper says the Hollywood Theatre was opened in the Bluhm Building on April 10, 1942. Keith La Vake refurbished the former Hollywood Theatre location and reused the Wausau Theatre moniker in its new location beginning on August 31, 1960 in its grand opening with “Bambi.”
In 1978, Rogers Cinema took over the location operating it as a one-screen operation for a brief period. The location became the Rogers Cinema on February 23, 1979 until its second screen was ready and becoming the Rogers Cinema I & II on March 9, 1979.
The Stuart Theatre launched January 1, 1920 with 1,197 seats and a Bartola pipe organ to entertain the crowds. Roy Cummings Entertainment Circuit’s French-themed theater was a crowd pleaser. But when the Saxe Circuit bought the venue in 1926, they hired architects Openhamer and Opal to do a major renovation of the theatre.
Relaunching as the Wausau Theatre, the movie “Sparrows” was the opening feature on September 4, 1926 and was the film’s first showing after its premiere at Grauman’s Egyptian theatre in Hollywood. Audiences were said to approve of the Golden Voiced Barton Theatre Organ.
Under Fox operation in 1929, the theatre switched to Western Electric sound technology to show talkies. After the second twenty year lease was up, Fox walked away from the location and it closing with “From the Terrace” on July 28, 1960. The theatre became the new home of the relocated F.W. Woolworth five and dime variety store.
Keith La Vake refurbished the former Hollywood Theatre location and reused the Wausau Theatre moniker in its new location beginning on August 31, 1960 in its grand opening with “Bambi.”
Opened in 1907, the Wausau completed a 10-year lease closing late in 1917, the proprietors moved to the West side of the business district as the Lyric Theatre in January of 1918.
It looks like it opened in 1912 and showed films until 1968. In 1930, it converted to RCA Photophone to show talking pictures. 1954, it converted to widescreen for CinemaScope presentations. Then it had live events. It was demolished in 1977.
The four movie theatres that called the former Parker Hall home: at upper right is The New Theatre (1910); Ungerer’s Theatre (1914) at bottom left; the Manasquan Theatre (1915) at lower right; and the longest-running name, the Arcadia Theatre at upper left.
Dudley J. LeBlanc launched the $15,000 Dudley Theatre on September 24, 1938 at 303 North Cushing Avenue. The opening film was “Vogues of 1938.” In August of 1939, the Joy Theatre Circuit added the Dudley buying out LeBlanc and changed its name to the Joy Theatre. The location was closed when the theatre could only support one theatre effectively. This location was torn down and became a smaller building housing restaurants.
In the middle of the block at 312 N. Cushing on the West side was the Rio Theatre operated by the Joy Circuit. It burned on October 17, 1943, rebuilt and was relaunched as the Rio. The Rio was rebranded as the new location of the Joy Theatre. The Joy went out of business on January 25, 1971 after a showing of “Cougar Country.” In July of 1972, the theatre was gutted with the floor leveled. Its front was removed and it became a Vee’s five and dime variety store. It has a separate listing on this site.
The Eleazar Theatre & Dance Hall turned Casino Theatre, then People’s Theatre and Queen Theatre at 217 North Cushing. That theatre was the first venue of sound films for the town. Its listing is under the Queen Theatre.
200 Main Street was the address of this Chester Theatre. The new theatre was built and launched in January of 1949. The Chester had a long run. Under new owners in 1981, it became the Chester Theatre and Video Store. It only showed films on weekends during much of its run as a video operation. It was renamed Chester Video in 1986 and appears to have dropped the showing of films. The auditorium was used as a church from that point forward. The Chester Video operation appears to have gone out of business in 2000 continuing as Chester Christian Fellowship Church until 2013.
The building got a major renovation to return to cinematic glory and return as a church, as well. The theatre re-opened as the Mt. Lassen Theatre (and Church) in 2018. Its website is:
https://mtlassentheatre.org/showtimes/
The first Chester Theatre was destroyed by fire on December 20, 1947. The Chester the second of three major theater fires in the ares in just a year along with the Greenville and Quincy theatres. That theatre, also on Main Street, dated back to the silent era in the 1920s.
The Plumas Theatre opened August 12, 1949 with the film, “We Were Strangers.” The theatre continues in operation until June 15, 1985 after a showing of “Witness.” A classified appears shortly thereafter seeking new owners to buy the Plumas for $69,000. In 1993, the theatre partially collapses and is torn down in 1996.
The Plumas Theatre replaced the town’s Greenville Theatre which burned down on March 6, 1949. That theatre was celebrating its eighth anniversary having launched March 6, 1941. Harry West had built that theatre in all cedar wood. The Greenville Theatre was the third major theater fire in just a year for the county along with the Chester and Quincy theatres.
The Greenville Theatre had replaced a the town’s previous Greenville Theatre that had operated under that name since at least 1926 in the town’s American Legion Hall. The original Greenville Theatre had converted to sound in September of 1930 after running as a silent film venue prior.
This second Portola Theatre launched with the film, “Holiday” on July 15, 1938. The venue replaced the original Portola Theatre which was created in November of 1919 by John Schill and Walter Cox likely on a 20-year lease. The theatre gets a refresh in 1958 likely starting a new 20-year lease. In July of 1978, new operators start a new lease under the new name of Portola Opera House. The Portola Opera House – still showing movies – burned down on September 27, 1980 ending its run.
The Town Hall Theatre opened on August 7, 1936 with the film, “Ah Wilderness.” The local paper credits S. Charles Lee with the architectural plans. The site was home to the city’s Town Hall and the original Quincy Theatre which were decimated by a fire August 28, 1934 starting at the Grand Central Hotel.
Quincy Theatre operator Paul R. Sprague rebuilt this second Quincy Theatre opening at 213 Main Street with rustic architecture on January 25, 1935 with Jimmy Stewart in “Here Comes the Navy.” It would be converted to the Log Cabin Theatre in 1947.
The original Quincy Theatre was located at 469 Main Street and appears to have opened in 1916. On April 8, 1931, it was equipped for sound showing the comedy, “Top Speed.” Its final film was “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” burning down while in operation on August 28, 1934 in a fire started at the nearby Grand Central Hotel. A new theatre would be constructed at the same spot with the Town Hall Theatre.
Sprague sold the Quincy Theatre in 1947 which closed for a refresh under new operators Vernon and Edwary Claeys. On June 8, 1947, the Quincy reopened with new sound and projetion; though retrofitted, the theatre retained its rustic look. The Claeys would change the name of the venue to the Log Cabin Theatre.
On November 16, 1947, the theatre suffered extensive damage after a fire. It was rebuilt to the plans of Cantin & Cantin. It relaunched on August 22, 1948. The Log Cabin Theatre closed in 1956 and reopened briefly one last time under new operators on March 30, 1958. After closing for good later in 1958, the Log Cabin was purchased by Safeway for a grocery store in 1962 and was demolished in April of 1963. The grocery building had survived in the the 21st Century with Safeway leaving that property in 1976.
Ed Barth had operated the Amuse-U and Yale Theatres in Carbondale before opening the much larger Barth Theatre on March 1, 1920 launching with “Soldiers of Fortune.” Gill & Faith Architects of Murphysboro drew the architectural plans. The theatre was updated becoming the Gem Theatre on September 6, 1934. On September 3, 1938, after yet another renovation, the theatre reopened as the Rodgers Theatre.
The theatre converted to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope screenings in the 1950s. But business trailed off in the television era and business siphoned after the building of the Varsity Theatre which launched in 1956. The Rodgers turned to an art cinema in 1957 running until a fire on February 23, 1959 closed the theatre. The last film was “The Red and the Black.”
William Blair launched the Blair Theatre in March of 1950. It was built to replace the aging Del Rio Theatre which closed years later. In January of 1969, the theater became the Clover Theatre. On February 4, 2000, the theatre relaunched as a four-screen operation called the Clover Cinemas. The project was accomplished by building an addition adjoining the original structure.
This location appears to have many names. Among them is the Scout Theatre which launched in 1918 likely as its second name. It then became the Idlehour Theatre on July 15, 1932 with “Fireman, Save My Child.” On December 10, 1932 it became the Allen Theatre launching with “That’s My Boy.” In April, “Gone With The Wind” played at the theatre. When the Delta Theatre opened on June 23, 1948, the Allen’s days were numbeed.Though the Allen’s last film appears to be a 1954 screening, regular theatrical operations appear to have ended in 1949. The building was sold in 1955 for other retail purposes.
Walter Christianson contracted with Pat McCarthy in 1949 for McCarthy’s 31st drive-in, the St. Mary Drive-In. It launched in January of 1950. Though church services continued on the site until the 1970s, movie bookings appear to stop in 1963.
The Liberty Theatre launched May 26, 1919 with “The Silver King” in the Doran Building. Manager L.H. Hutton then repositioned his Grand Theatre for part-time operation. Regular films stopped on February 19, 1956 with Edward G. Robinson in “Illegal” although events are scheduled thereafter. In 1963, the theatre had become the live music venue, The Rhythm Room.
The Roxy opened July 14, 1935 with Al Jolson in “Go Into Your Dance.” The theatre was twinned. It closed and was briefly reopened in January and February of 2012 as the Roxy Club, a live venue. It was offered for sale for $185,000 and from the real estate ads was significantly altered for its next use.
The Starlite Drive-In grand opening ad from June 20, 1950 with, “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” is in photos.
It was named posthumously for the head of the Liberty Theatre chain, J. Claude Keller. The theatre was destroyed June 27, 1957 in the devastating Hurricane Audrey that claimed 500 lives.
The Bijou opened in this location on May 20, 1907 with the films, “Julia at the Barracks” and “Young Tramps.” The theatre moved from 117 East Second Street where it had operated prior. Two years later, on May 17, 1909, new operators called the theatre the Yale Theatre. On July 10, 1909, the Yale closed. New operators took on the location and refreshed the interior and exterior of the venue.
On September 29, 1909, those new operators opened the theatre under the name of the Crystal Theatre. In 1929, the Crystal switched to Vitaphone for sound films. Listings are soon discontinued. On February 7, 1935, the theatre changed names to the Plaza Theatre after a $25,000 makeover under Fox Circuit ownership relaunching with the film, “Rumba.”
The Tauy Theatre opened January 22, 1941. It was named for John Tecumseh “Tauy” Jones, an early pioneer in the area who was an interpreter for the Pottawatomie Indians and became one of their leaders. The name was selected in a contest in which local people submitted potential names for the new theatre. A statute in Tauy’s name is on the city’s courthouse grounds.
The Tauy closed due to a fire on December 5, 1959 after the last film shown: “Odds Against Tomorrow.” Repairs scheduled didn’t occur. The location was retrofitted for a catalog store that launched there in 1962. The theatre was never known as the “Tony” or the “Tany.”
Correction: opening date was October 4, 1909 (my error; sorry)
The building housing this theatre dated back to August 3, 1887 as the Masonic Lodge building. It then served as the Ellsworth Opera House. As a film venue, the Golden Belt Theatre and skating rink opened on October 13, 1915. Its original name is for Ellsworth’s place in the wheat belt and associated Golden Belt Railroad line and the Golden Belt auto route that was created in 1910/1 running through Ellsworth.
Late in 1929, Sherman Wiggins converted to Western Electric Sound who likely was convinced by Western Electric’s business ally, Bell Telephone, to change the name of the theatre to the Golden Bell for the sound era. The theatre would get a major refresh in 1947. Under new operators, the venue’s name was shortened to the Bell Theatre closing in 1974. It became a lounge in 1980. Just short of its 100th anniversary, a fire destroyed the building on October 19, 1983, which was being readied for a renovated club space.
Opened as the Twilight Theatre on August 26, 1919 with “Don’t Change Your Husband.”
The State Theatre is located at 617 Broadway Street. It was the second State Theatre in town. It launched April 6, 1949 with “Father Was a Fullback.” The current theatre has 302 seats.
The first State Theatre was at 519 Broadway opening in 1928 closing 20 years later. It was the one with 378 seats.
The official website with showtimes for the current State Theatre can be found at its Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/State-Theatre-Larned-Kansas-273849419335/
The local paper says the Hollywood Theatre was opened in the Bluhm Building on April 10, 1942. Keith La Vake refurbished the former Hollywood Theatre location and reused the Wausau Theatre moniker in its new location beginning on August 31, 1960 in its grand opening with “Bambi.”
In 1978, Rogers Cinema took over the location operating it as a one-screen operation for a brief period. The location became the Rogers Cinema on February 23, 1979 until its second screen was ready and becoming the Rogers Cinema I & II on March 9, 1979.
The Stuart Theatre launched January 1, 1920 with 1,197 seats and a Bartola pipe organ to entertain the crowds. Roy Cummings Entertainment Circuit’s French-themed theater was a crowd pleaser. But when the Saxe Circuit bought the venue in 1926, they hired architects Openhamer and Opal to do a major renovation of the theatre.
Relaunching as the Wausau Theatre, the movie “Sparrows” was the opening feature on September 4, 1926 and was the film’s first showing after its premiere at Grauman’s Egyptian theatre in Hollywood. Audiences were said to approve of the Golden Voiced Barton Theatre Organ.
Under Fox operation in 1929, the theatre switched to Western Electric sound technology to show talkies. After the second twenty year lease was up, Fox walked away from the location and it closing with “From the Terrace” on July 28, 1960. The theatre became the new home of the relocated F.W. Woolworth five and dime variety store.
Keith La Vake refurbished the former Hollywood Theatre location and reused the Wausau Theatre moniker in its new location beginning on August 31, 1960 in its grand opening with “Bambi.”
Opened in 1907, the Wausau completed a 10-year lease closing late in 1917, the proprietors moved to the West side of the business district as the Lyric Theatre in January of 1918.
It looks like it opened in 1912 and showed films until 1968. In 1930, it converted to RCA Photophone to show talking pictures. 1954, it converted to widescreen for CinemaScope presentations. Then it had live events. It was demolished in 1977.
The four movie theatres that called the former Parker Hall home: at upper right is The New Theatre (1910); Ungerer’s Theatre (1914) at bottom left; the Manasquan Theatre (1915) at lower right; and the longest-running name, the Arcadia Theatre at upper left.
Dudley J. LeBlanc launched the $15,000 Dudley Theatre on September 24, 1938 at 303 North Cushing Avenue. The opening film was “Vogues of 1938.” In August of 1939, the Joy Theatre Circuit added the Dudley buying out LeBlanc and changed its name to the Joy Theatre. The location was closed when the theatre could only support one theatre effectively. This location was torn down and became a smaller building housing restaurants.
In the middle of the block at 312 N. Cushing on the West side was the Rio Theatre operated by the Joy Circuit. It burned on October 17, 1943, rebuilt and was relaunched as the Rio. The Rio was rebranded as the new location of the Joy Theatre. The Joy went out of business on January 25, 1971 after a showing of “Cougar Country.” In July of 1972, the theatre was gutted with the floor leveled. Its front was removed and it became a Vee’s five and dime variety store. It has a separate listing on this site.
The Eleazar Theatre & Dance Hall turned Casino Theatre, then People’s Theatre and Queen Theatre at 217 North Cushing. That theatre was the first venue of sound films for the town. Its listing is under the Queen Theatre.
200 Main Street was the address of this Chester Theatre. The new theatre was built and launched in January of 1949. The Chester had a long run. Under new owners in 1981, it became the Chester Theatre and Video Store. It only showed films on weekends during much of its run as a video operation. It was renamed Chester Video in 1986 and appears to have dropped the showing of films. The auditorium was used as a church from that point forward. The Chester Video operation appears to have gone out of business in 2000 continuing as Chester Christian Fellowship Church until 2013.
The building got a major renovation to return to cinematic glory and return as a church, as well. The theatre re-opened as the Mt. Lassen Theatre (and Church) in 2018. Its website is:
https://mtlassentheatre.org/showtimes/
The first Chester Theatre was destroyed by fire on December 20, 1947. The Chester the second of three major theater fires in the ares in just a year along with the Greenville and Quincy theatres. That theatre, also on Main Street, dated back to the silent era in the 1920s.
The Plumas Theatre opened August 12, 1949 with the film, “We Were Strangers.” The theatre continues in operation until June 15, 1985 after a showing of “Witness.” A classified appears shortly thereafter seeking new owners to buy the Plumas for $69,000. In 1993, the theatre partially collapses and is torn down in 1996.
The Plumas Theatre replaced the town’s Greenville Theatre which burned down on March 6, 1949. That theatre was celebrating its eighth anniversary having launched March 6, 1941. Harry West had built that theatre in all cedar wood. The Greenville Theatre was the third major theater fire in just a year for the county along with the Chester and Quincy theatres.
The Greenville Theatre had replaced a the town’s previous Greenville Theatre that had operated under that name since at least 1926 in the town’s American Legion Hall. The original Greenville Theatre had converted to sound in September of 1930 after running as a silent film venue prior.
This second Portola Theatre launched with the film, “Holiday” on July 15, 1938. The venue replaced the original Portola Theatre which was created in November of 1919 by John Schill and Walter Cox likely on a 20-year lease. The theatre gets a refresh in 1958 likely starting a new 20-year lease. In July of 1978, new operators start a new lease under the new name of Portola Opera House. The Portola Opera House – still showing movies – burned down on September 27, 1980 ending its run.
The Town Hall Theatre opened on August 7, 1936 with the film, “Ah Wilderness.” The local paper credits S. Charles Lee with the architectural plans. The site was home to the city’s Town Hall and the original Quincy Theatre which were decimated by a fire August 28, 1934 starting at the Grand Central Hotel.
Quincy Theatre operator Paul R. Sprague rebuilt this second Quincy Theatre opening at 213 Main Street with rustic architecture on January 25, 1935 with Jimmy Stewart in “Here Comes the Navy.” It would be converted to the Log Cabin Theatre in 1947.
The original Quincy Theatre was located at 469 Main Street and appears to have opened in 1916. On April 8, 1931, it was equipped for sound showing the comedy, “Top Speed.” Its final film was “Friends of Mr. Sweeney” burning down while in operation on August 28, 1934 in a fire started at the nearby Grand Central Hotel. A new theatre would be constructed at the same spot with the Town Hall Theatre.
Sprague sold the Quincy Theatre in 1947 which closed for a refresh under new operators Vernon and Edwary Claeys. On June 8, 1947, the Quincy reopened with new sound and projetion; though retrofitted, the theatre retained its rustic look. The Claeys would change the name of the venue to the Log Cabin Theatre.
On November 16, 1947, the theatre suffered extensive damage after a fire. It was rebuilt to the plans of Cantin & Cantin. It relaunched on August 22, 1948. The Log Cabin Theatre closed in 1956 and reopened briefly one last time under new operators on March 30, 1958. After closing for good later in 1958, the Log Cabin was purchased by Safeway for a grocery store in 1962 and was demolished in April of 1963. The grocery building had survived in the the 21st Century with Safeway leaving that property in 1976.
Ed Barth had operated the Amuse-U and Yale Theatres in Carbondale before opening the much larger Barth Theatre on March 1, 1920 launching with “Soldiers of Fortune.” Gill & Faith Architects of Murphysboro drew the architectural plans. The theatre was updated becoming the Gem Theatre on September 6, 1934. On September 3, 1938, after yet another renovation, the theatre reopened as the Rodgers Theatre.
The theatre converted to widescreen to accommodate CinemaScope screenings in the 1950s. But business trailed off in the television era and business siphoned after the building of the Varsity Theatre which launched in 1956. The Rodgers turned to an art cinema in 1957 running until a fire on February 23, 1959 closed the theatre. The last film was “The Red and the Black.”
William Blair launched the Blair Theatre in March of 1950. It was built to replace the aging Del Rio Theatre which closed years later. In January of 1969, the theater became the Clover Theatre. On February 4, 2000, the theatre relaunched as a four-screen operation called the Clover Cinemas. The project was accomplished by building an addition adjoining the original structure.
This location appears to have many names. Among them is the Scout Theatre which launched in 1918 likely as its second name. It then became the Idlehour Theatre on July 15, 1932 with “Fireman, Save My Child.” On December 10, 1932 it became the Allen Theatre launching with “That’s My Boy.” In April, “Gone With The Wind” played at the theatre. When the Delta Theatre opened on June 23, 1948, the Allen’s days were numbeed.Though the Allen’s last film appears to be a 1954 screening, regular theatrical operations appear to have ended in 1949. The building was sold in 1955 for other retail purposes.
Walter Christianson contracted with Pat McCarthy in 1949 for McCarthy’s 31st drive-in, the St. Mary Drive-In. It launched in January of 1950. Though church services continued on the site until the 1970s, movie bookings appear to stop in 1963.