Some of the history here is confused. The G.A.R. Hall was on what was then 2nd St (Now 11th). It first appears on the 1899 map, having been constructed sometime after 1891. It was a large one story wooden building, with a stage and scenery at the rear. It appears up to the 1911 map, but the Jan. 1918 map shows a two story brick city hall building on the site with the address 133-135 W 2nd Ave (it seems to still be under construction). This does still contain a very small G.A.R. Hall on one corner, but it can’t have seated more than about 30 people. The Electric must have closed by late 1917.
If a later Star Theater opened here, that was an entirely separate operation, and involved either the demolition or remodeling of the city hall. The Electric for sure would have been located at 133-135 W 11th St, which is currently a dumpy modern bank building. Status should be ‘demolished’, and the functions removed. All reference to either the Star or Electric should be removed, and a separate entry created for the other theater. We can be sure the Electric was here, the Star is less certain.
Description needs to be corrected. This is not at 9th, it’s three lots north of 8th. This contributor is obsessed with putting things at corners, and gets them wrong all the time. Of course, the Dream opening date is wrong too. It opened in 1924. If Boller did the remodel after the fire, that wasn’t until 1947.
Should be listed as demolished. If the address is correct, the 1905 map shows this space as ‘To Be Penny Amusement Parlor’. The space next door at 421 is the Peoples Theatre on that map. By Nov. 1913, this space is vacant, and 421 is selling boots & shoes. Both were part of a large set of three story brick storefronts constructed prior to 1883. The appearance may have been similar to the still extant portion at 417 (419 has been remuddled). The Masonic Temple was constructed in 1914, which involved the demolition of 421-425.
Should we give the older theater a separate listing? The NRHP nomination says that the three remaining walls of the old Dream were incorporated into the new structure, so you could say they are at least partly the same building.
Address is wrong. This is at 315, and has suffered a bad remodel. It is used as apartments. Was built sometime after 1913. The Kansas historical society says 1890, but that’s very dubious, and based on two smaller buildings previously on this site.
The address should be 612. This can’t have opened prior to 1911, since the Dec. 1910 map shows a racket store here. The building was extended to the rear in the conversion. The building dated to sometime before 1883.
The building seems to have been constructed before 1883. The 1901 map shows a saloon here, but the Dec. 1910 Sanborn shows ‘Moving Pictures’ here. The current dumpy facade likely dates from just after the closure of this theater in 1954 (as the Madrid). It’s now a podiatrist’s office.
The description needs to be updated. It describes the cheesy fake entrance stuck on the back of the building as if it were the front. It’s been removed as well.
The Unique name never belonged to this building. It belonged to an airdome on this site through at least the Fall of 1905. The Peoples name definitely also belonged to the airdome, but possibly also to the permanent building.
The address is wrong. Should be 524-526. The building was looking very seedy in the 2000s, but has been renovated, probably closer to its historic appearance. It is used as an event space.
I’m going to correct myself a bit. It appears this section of the building existed prior to 1884. It seems to have been remodeled at some point to match the Miller Building, but there are some differences, mainly in the windows and structural ironwork.
The ugly remodels have been removed, although this portion of the building no longer has an entry. It is used as offices.
The building seems to have been originally called the Miller Building, and was constructed sometime between 1897 and 1901. This was the eastern end of the structure. The 1912 map shows this space as vacant, so the theater may have opened earlier, unless of course a business or two came and went prior to 1926.
The portion of the building on the left of the photo was a candy store, and disappeared sometime between 1933 and 1947. Not sure what happened, but it was a vacant lot for some time. The building currently has a tile block storefront with a very strange marquee which may date from the renaming to Dallas, or might have been put up for whatever store took over the place. The building now uses a 1300 address.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
May 10, 2024 at 6:53 am
Although you can see that the side wall had cracked by 1917.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
May 9, 2024 at 7:42 pm
Is it possible the Florence moved to the old opera house? That would make sense of the floor collapse in 1930. I suppose this building might have had some sort of basement into which a floor could collapse, but you’re right that the capacity seems impossible here.
Some of the history here is confused. The G.A.R. Hall was on what was then 2nd St (Now 11th). It first appears on the 1899 map, having been constructed sometime after 1891. It was a large one story wooden building, with a stage and scenery at the rear. It appears up to the 1911 map, but the Jan. 1918 map shows a two story brick city hall building on the site with the address 133-135 W 2nd Ave (it seems to still be under construction). This does still contain a very small G.A.R. Hall on one corner, but it can’t have seated more than about 30 people. The Electric must have closed by late 1917.
If a later Star Theater opened here, that was an entirely separate operation, and involved either the demolition or remodeling of the city hall. The Electric for sure would have been located at 133-135 W 11th St, which is currently a dumpy modern bank building. Status should be ‘demolished’, and the functions removed. All reference to either the Star or Electric should be removed, and a separate entry created for the other theater. We can be sure the Electric was here, the Star is less certain.
Description needs to be corrected. This is not at 9th, it’s three lots north of 8th. This contributor is obsessed with putting things at corners, and gets them wrong all the time. Of course, the Dream opening date is wrong too. It opened in 1924. If Boller did the remodel after the fire, that wasn’t until 1947.
Should be listed as demolished. If the address is correct, the 1905 map shows this space as ‘To Be Penny Amusement Parlor’. The space next door at 421 is the Peoples Theatre on that map. By Nov. 1913, this space is vacant, and 421 is selling boots & shoes. Both were part of a large set of three story brick storefronts constructed prior to 1883. The appearance may have been similar to the still extant portion at 417 (419 has been remuddled). The Masonic Temple was constructed in 1914, which involved the demolition of 421-425.
Thanks for the research!
Should we give the older theater a separate listing? The NRHP nomination says that the three remaining walls of the old Dream were incorporated into the new structure, so you could say they are at least partly the same building.
Address is wrong. This is at 315, and has suffered a bad remodel. It is used as apartments. Was built sometime after 1913. The Kansas historical society says 1890, but that’s very dubious, and based on two smaller buildings previously on this site.
The address should be 612. This can’t have opened prior to 1911, since the Dec. 1910 map shows a racket store here. The building was extended to the rear in the conversion. The building dated to sometime before 1883.
This theater may have closed briefly, but reopened as the Madrid, and operated until 1954.
We need to change the photo to one of the building.
The building seems to have been constructed before 1883. The 1901 map shows a saloon here, but the Dec. 1910 Sanborn shows ‘Moving Pictures’ here. The current dumpy facade likely dates from just after the closure of this theater in 1954 (as the Madrid). It’s now a podiatrist’s office.
The description needs to be updated. It describes the cheesy fake entrance stuck on the back of the building as if it were the front. It’s been removed as well.
The stupid trashy ‘mall’ has been ripped out, and the theater is looking a lot better. The front seems to be the front again, so to speak.
I’ve added a listing for the Unique. The zip code should be 66048. Everything on that block uses it, and 66043 belongs to Lansing.
The Unique name never belonged to this building. It belonged to an airdome on this site through at least the Fall of 1905. The Peoples name definitely also belonged to the airdome, but possibly also to the permanent building.
It looks like this theater was a remodel of a livery stable built between 1889 and 1897.
The address is wrong. Should be 524-526. The building was looking very seedy in the 2000s, but has been renovated, probably closer to its historic appearance. It is used as an event space.
I’ve added a 1913 Sanborn image. This needs to be listed as demolished. The site is a parking lot.
Could be. I suppose you could have stuck a roof over that outside space.
I’m going to correct myself a bit. It appears this section of the building existed prior to 1884. It seems to have been remodeled at some point to match the Miller Building, but there are some differences, mainly in the windows and structural ironwork.
The ugly remodels have been removed, although this portion of the building no longer has an entry. It is used as offices.
The building seems to have been originally called the Miller Building, and was constructed sometime between 1897 and 1901. This was the eastern end of the structure. The 1912 map shows this space as vacant, so the theater may have opened earlier, unless of course a business or two came and went prior to 1926.
That didn’t last long!
The portion of the building on the left of the photo was a candy store, and disappeared sometime between 1933 and 1947. Not sure what happened, but it was a vacant lot for some time. The building currently has a tile block storefront with a very strange marquee which may date from the renaming to Dallas, or might have been put up for whatever store took over the place. The building now uses a 1300 address.
Although you can see that the side wall had cracked by 1917.
Is it possible the Florence moved to the old opera house? That would make sense of the floor collapse in 1930. I suppose this building might have had some sort of basement into which a floor could collapse, but you’re right that the capacity seems impossible here.
Thanks for confirming the opera house. I’ll list that.