I think this has to be the theater at 232 Main St. It’s the only one on the 1917 and 1935 maps. It was located in the northern storefront of the old Trues Opera House, which was built in 1879. The March 1909 map shows a harness shop here. The building is in decent shape today. This space may be a bar.
As far as I can tell, this was originally the right 1/3 of the W.H. Schliep building, which was constructed in 1883. It’s not clear if it’s a remodel or a replacement, and the roof does appear to be different in the satellite view. The front appears to be from the mid-‘20s. Yenchay’s is gone, but the building is still an oriental grocery. Both the 1909 and 1920 maps show this building vacant. The historic address was 118.
It seems that this was a very early, and quite short-lived theater. The building appears on the 1886 map, although the current appearance likely dates to around 1920-1940. The 1899 map shows a billiard hall here, and the 1909 map shows a ‘Moving Picture Show’, and the building modified by the addition of a one story extension in the rear. This theater does not appear in the 1914-15 listings, and the 1920 map shows a battery charging business here. Note that the historic address was 129, at least through 1942.
I see no theater here on the 1909 or 1920 maps. There is a Pastime listed in the 1914-15 American Motion Picture Directory. No address is given. It appears to have closed before 1925. This contributor is frequently in error on locations, etc. This building is not on a corner, it’s in the middle of the block.
Original capacity was 700, but it was 500 by 1938. The 2023 streetview shows that the Main Street Cinemas marquee is unchanged, but it is indeed run by Eisentraut, who call it the Temple on their website.
There used to be an Iris listing here, but it was very vague, and someone claimed it was in a building from 1917, which obviously can’t be right. I suppose this could have had a protracted construction, opened as the Iris, folded soon after, and then perhaps become the Strand? I’m almost positive it was later the State, given the design of the terrazzo, which you can see on the 2013 streetview. It seems the early days had wild competition. The 1925 listings show 9 theaters in Chariton, which seems ludicrous.
So were the Grand and the Temple in the same building? The NRHP listing for downtown says that the theater at 108 N Grand was the Grand. I had discounted that, because the 1914-15 directory only lists the Temple. There was a later Strand, and an even later State, which I assumed was there.
The Odd Fellows building was constructed in 1900. I believe that the Majestic became the first Lyric in 1913, and closed in 1928, when this building became a hatchery. This is based off information in the NRHP listing for downtown. The Lyric then moved one door to the east, into a smaller building. The 1926 listings show the Lyric with 260 seats, so the capacity somehow increased in the new building.
The NRHP listing says it opened Christmas Day on 1935, but given the film, that is likely wrong. It still has beautiful art deco light fixtures in the lobby and auditorium.
Looks like some of the history is wrong, too. This has not been demolished, and the correct address is 127 W Washington. The building is the Emil Jarl building, constructed in 1906-07 as a department store. The Lyric was here 1929-35. This building was remodeled into the Osceola, which operated until about 1970. All this information comes from the NRHP listing for downtown.
The one obvious conflict with this information is that the Lyric is the only theater listed in the 1914-15 directory. The listing makes reference to a skating rink being here in 1913 (probably upstairs), and a fire ruining the Jarl store in 1917. I think what may have happened is that the Majestic (which I’ve added a listing for) became the Lyric in 1913. That property became a hatchery in 1928, which makes a 1929 opening date at this address quite sensible.
This building today is in decent shape, with a fairly unattractive ground floor, and used as a clinic.
If the history is correct, the address has to be wrong. 103 is a large building from about 1900. There’s a history painted on the side, and it was never a theater. I’d suggest something like 107-113 which is an empty lot to the west of 103, although the scar on the side indicates a small one story building is missing directly next door. The fire department is at 135, and that building is definitely post 1956.
I am almost positive this was originally the Strand, and is located at 108 N Grand St. There is a theater under construction there on the 1913 Sanborn. The NRHP listing calls it the Grand, but I don’t see that name anywhere. The Strand is still listed in 1928, but seems to have closed in 1929.
The reason I believe it must have reopened is that there was a terrazzo entry, with a scar for an outdoor ticket booth. The style did not appear to match such an old building. The State is still listed as closed in 1947. I don’t think it lasted very long. It has been turned into office space.
When I was there in 2010, 108 was a State Farm office, which seems to be gone now. The agent saw me trying to get a shot of the terrazzo, which is partly covered by a cheap little plywood addition, and let me come upstairs, where the projection booth still existed. There were some Columbia Pictures mailing labels stuck to the wall. Sadly, my pictures did not come out. At that point, the front was under a hideous tacky shingle awning that disfigured that entire side of the square. It has now been removed, but it appears that the terrazzo was sadly destroyed by a sidewalk replacement project.
I do not believe the 1930 fire was nearly as devastating as described. The Pythian Building (which held the Lincoln), is the only thing missing from the 1950s picture. The building east of the alley was from the 1880s, and survived until at least 2013, although it is now a vacant lot. The building past the Ritz to the west survived as well, but was progressively stripped of ornamentation, and given a repellent slipcover around 1965. The auditorium of the Ritz may have been damaged. With the 1927 and 1948 maps unavailable online, no way to compare a before and after of the rear exists.
By the way, the address for the Ritz is 906, not 908.
As Ken pointed out long ago, this became a bicycle shop in 2008. It is still open. It’s not clear when the roofline was ruined, but it has a flat top now.
Not quite sure where the Leavitt could have been. If you’re saying it was 107, that’s the south side of Main, and can’t have been on the square. 107 E Main is part of an old tin front that’s still just barely hanging on. If it was in the 100 block west, and it was not the building that later became the Amus-U, then it’s likely still there, but I can’t identify a good candidate from the maps. The NRHP listing is very old, and therefore done to a pretty poor standard. There’s very little history of buildings, and most are only identified by address.
For the Airdome, obviously demolished, it was likely at 203, which on the 1912 map is a vacant lot between a garage/dealership on the corner (feed mill on the 1906 map) and a blacksmith. All buildings are the same between 1906 and 1912.
Okay, Looks like Depot was called Old Depot by 1893, was 5th St by 1898, and was 1st St by 1906. It was probably south of Main St, and has definitely been demolished. Everything on the 1906 map is the same on the 1912 map, so I’m not sure where it might have been. Best candidate might be a farm implement dealer which was on the west side, just south of the alley.
Also, A St is the west side of the square, Center is the east. There was never anything on A besides houses, except one hotel. Additionally, this should now be changed to demolished, since the building has vanished on the most recent streetview.
Going through all the information, it seems this was the Photoplay, which opened August 15, 1911, was renamed the Park in 1919, and may have closed in 1930.
Not demolished, and the correct address is 129. Not sure why some of the information is missing, but this has been an auto parts store for many years.
A postcard from about 1910-15 shows the entry was typical for the era. Recessed arched entry with an outdoor ticket booth.
The 1914-15 directory lists a Majestic on Main St. Given the size of the town, this was probably the same thing.
I think this has to be the theater at 232 Main St. It’s the only one on the 1917 and 1935 maps. It was located in the northern storefront of the old Trues Opera House, which was built in 1879. The March 1909 map shows a harness shop here. The building is in decent shape today. This space may be a bar.
As far as I can tell, this was originally the right 1/3 of the W.H. Schliep building, which was constructed in 1883. It’s not clear if it’s a remodel or a replacement, and the roof does appear to be different in the satellite view. The front appears to be from the mid-‘20s. Yenchay’s is gone, but the building is still an oriental grocery. Both the 1909 and 1920 maps show this building vacant. The historic address was 118.
It seems that this was a very early, and quite short-lived theater. The building appears on the 1886 map, although the current appearance likely dates to around 1920-1940. The 1899 map shows a billiard hall here, and the 1909 map shows a ‘Moving Picture Show’, and the building modified by the addition of a one story extension in the rear. This theater does not appear in the 1914-15 listings, and the 1920 map shows a battery charging business here. Note that the historic address was 129, at least through 1942.
There are only two Charitons in the US. Iowa and Missouri. There’s a Sheridan, Illinois, but it’s a tiny village.
I see no theater here on the 1909 or 1920 maps. There is a Pastime listed in the 1914-15 American Motion Picture Directory. No address is given. It appears to have closed before 1925. This contributor is frequently in error on locations, etc. This building is not on a corner, it’s in the middle of the block.
Original capacity was 700, but it was 500 by 1938. The 2023 streetview shows that the Main Street Cinemas marquee is unchanged, but it is indeed run by Eisentraut, who call it the Temple on their website.
By the way, thanks for firming up the dates. Hopefully Ken will update the listing.
There used to be an Iris listing here, but it was very vague, and someone claimed it was in a building from 1917, which obviously can’t be right. I suppose this could have had a protracted construction, opened as the Iris, folded soon after, and then perhaps become the Strand? I’m almost positive it was later the State, given the design of the terrazzo, which you can see on the 2013 streetview. It seems the early days had wild competition. The 1925 listings show 9 theaters in Chariton, which seems ludicrous.
So were the Grand and the Temple in the same building? The NRHP listing for downtown says that the theater at 108 N Grand was the Grand. I had discounted that, because the 1914-15 directory only lists the Temple. There was a later Strand, and an even later State, which I assumed was there.
The Odd Fellows building was constructed in 1900. I believe that the Majestic became the first Lyric in 1913, and closed in 1928, when this building became a hatchery. This is based off information in the NRHP listing for downtown. The Lyric then moved one door to the east, into a smaller building. The 1926 listings show the Lyric with 260 seats, so the capacity somehow increased in the new building.
The NRHP listing says it opened Christmas Day on 1935, but given the film, that is likely wrong. It still has beautiful art deco light fixtures in the lobby and auditorium.
Looks like some of the history is wrong, too. This has not been demolished, and the correct address is 127 W Washington. The building is the Emil Jarl building, constructed in 1906-07 as a department store. The Lyric was here 1929-35. This building was remodeled into the Osceola, which operated until about 1970. All this information comes from the NRHP listing for downtown.
The one obvious conflict with this information is that the Lyric is the only theater listed in the 1914-15 directory. The listing makes reference to a skating rink being here in 1913 (probably upstairs), and a fire ruining the Jarl store in 1917. I think what may have happened is that the Majestic (which I’ve added a listing for) became the Lyric in 1913. That property became a hatchery in 1928, which makes a 1929 opening date at this address quite sensible.
This building today is in decent shape, with a fairly unattractive ground floor, and used as a clinic.
I’ve gone ahead and added a picture of what was likely the Strand/State.
If the history is correct, the address has to be wrong. 103 is a large building from about 1900. There’s a history painted on the side, and it was never a theater. I’d suggest something like 107-113 which is an empty lot to the west of 103, although the scar on the side indicates a small one story building is missing directly next door. The fire department is at 135, and that building is definitely post 1956.
I am almost positive this was originally the Strand, and is located at 108 N Grand St. There is a theater under construction there on the 1913 Sanborn. The NRHP listing calls it the Grand, but I don’t see that name anywhere. The Strand is still listed in 1928, but seems to have closed in 1929.
The reason I believe it must have reopened is that there was a terrazzo entry, with a scar for an outdoor ticket booth. The style did not appear to match such an old building. The State is still listed as closed in 1947. I don’t think it lasted very long. It has been turned into office space.
When I was there in 2010, 108 was a State Farm office, which seems to be gone now. The agent saw me trying to get a shot of the terrazzo, which is partly covered by a cheap little plywood addition, and let me come upstairs, where the projection booth still existed. There were some Columbia Pictures mailing labels stuck to the wall. Sadly, my pictures did not come out. At that point, the front was under a hideous tacky shingle awning that disfigured that entire side of the square. It has now been removed, but it appears that the terrazzo was sadly destroyed by a sidewalk replacement project.
I do not believe the 1930 fire was nearly as devastating as described. The Pythian Building (which held the Lincoln), is the only thing missing from the 1950s picture. The building east of the alley was from the 1880s, and survived until at least 2013, although it is now a vacant lot. The building past the Ritz to the west survived as well, but was progressively stripped of ornamentation, and given a repellent slipcover around 1965. The auditorium of the Ritz may have been damaged. With the 1927 and 1948 maps unavailable online, no way to compare a before and after of the rear exists.
By the way, the address for the Ritz is 906, not 908.
As Ken pointed out long ago, this became a bicycle shop in 2008. It is still open. It’s not clear when the roofline was ruined, but it has a flat top now.
Not quite sure where the Leavitt could have been. If you’re saying it was 107, that’s the south side of Main, and can’t have been on the square. 107 E Main is part of an old tin front that’s still just barely hanging on. If it was in the 100 block west, and it was not the building that later became the Amus-U, then it’s likely still there, but I can’t identify a good candidate from the maps. The NRHP listing is very old, and therefore done to a pretty poor standard. There’s very little history of buildings, and most are only identified by address.
For the Airdome, obviously demolished, it was likely at 203, which on the 1912 map is a vacant lot between a garage/dealership on the corner (feed mill on the 1906 map) and a blacksmith. All buildings are the same between 1906 and 1912.
Okay, Looks like Depot was called Old Depot by 1893, was 5th St by 1898, and was 1st St by 1906. It was probably south of Main St, and has definitely been demolished. Everything on the 1906 map is the same on the 1912 map, so I’m not sure where it might have been. Best candidate might be a farm implement dealer which was on the west side, just south of the alley.
Also, A St is the west side of the square, Center is the east. There was never anything on A besides houses, except one hotel. Additionally, this should now be changed to demolished, since the building has vanished on the most recent streetview.
Going through all the information, it seems this was the Photoplay, which opened August 15, 1911, was renamed the Park in 1919, and may have closed in 1930.