Miller Theater

115 N. Broadway Street,
Wichita, KS 67202

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 13, 2020 at 8:43 pm

Boxoffice of March 16, 1970 said that a farewell party would be held at the Miller Theatre on March 18, as a benefit for the local art museum. Organist Gaylord Carter would perform on the Miller’s Wurlitzer, which had been restored for the occasion by members of the Theater Organ Club. National General Corp. were the last operators of the Miller, and would soon open the suburban Mall Cinema as a replacement for the 1922 downtown house.

Lyndon
Lyndon on September 4, 2016 at 3:47 am

The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum has a thread of memories about the Miller.

Bobneale
Bobneale on December 7, 2014 at 5:38 pm

My name is Bob Neale, I was hired with the title of “after school Popcorn boy” in 1953. H. F. “Buddy” Brown was the manager at that time. Frank Young was an elderly black man who wore a spiffy uniform and white gloves and was in charge of every body. He was a mentor to many of the young people that worked at the miller. Knowing almost everyone in Wichita he could get tickets to the shows at the Forum. I married a girl who was an usherette and it has lasted almost 60 years so far.

Lyndon
Lyndon on December 15, 2013 at 4:57 am

Here is a story about the Miller.

kwilkin1962
kwilkin1962 on September 11, 2013 at 8:33 pm

The Miller opened on May 1, 1922. It’s first movie was “Beyond the Rocks”, starring Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on June 13, 2011 at 3:09 pm

I found out that our Modjeska theatre in Augusta,Ga was a Publix Theatre in 1929 so they had screens everywhere KenRoe.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra on March 3, 2009 at 1:52 pm

Miss Melba,
I think those are store signs. On the northeast corner of First and Broadway a block from the Miller was the Orpheum Theatre. The Orpheum is one of a few surviving theaters in Wichita.

missmelbatoast
missmelbatoast on September 25, 2008 at 10:38 am

In the 1958 photo (12/2/06 posting), is there another theatre across the street?

missmelbatoast
missmelbatoast on December 16, 2006 at 7:40 pm

A brief history and vintage clear images of the Miller Theatre can be found in the link below;
View link

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on April 5, 2005 at 5:22 am

Seating 1,956, the Miller Theater was a project of Publix Theatres and the opening on 1st May 1922 was attended by Adolph Zukor himself.

It closed its doors for the last time on 18th March 1970, with a gala farewell show sponsored by the Wichita Art Museum; Robert Foley played the Wurlitzer organ as a special selection of silent movies flickered onto the screen for the last time.