Plaza Theater
4700-08 Wyandotte Street,
Kansas City,
MO
64112
4700-08 Wyandotte Street,
Kansas City,
MO
64112
11 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 43 comments
There seems to be a growing concern about no theaters operating on The Plaza. Many people have been angry ever since the Plaza was closed and converted to a short lived Restoration Hardware Store and then a knock off version. The ugly dark grey that replaced the white paint is dark and horrible for any retail situation. Many of us want the Plaza restored and returned as a Live Performing Arts Theater with ability to also show special movies. Although a removable flore was built along with a drop ceiling in the main auditorium to be the back room storage for the retail, much of the original decor is still there but hidden. Part of the old Balcony had to be modified to allow for the new restrooms to be built. All in all, we want the Plaza Theater back. It was not so altered that it could not be restored. Sadly the beautiful steps going up to the Balcony were removed along with covering the ornate steps going downstairs to the Lounge and Restrooms - Much of the Balcony is still the same and some have said the seats were never removed. The beautiful Spanish Style ceiling is still there, but would need a lot of repair due to the placement of new heating and AC in the building along with the dropped ceiling in the stock warehouse. Got to get more people behind this especially the Arts Community. Not sure what is happening with the Palace Theater main building. What are the plans for that? If we can get pride back at the Plaza with it being a safe place for night life, we need the Theaters back especially The once majestic Plaza. Anyone else the feels the same way, please comment.
another grand opening ad
Plaza theatre opening Sun, Oct 7, 1928 – 81 · The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri) · Newspapers.com
I quite agree with you, Sunflower.
Yes, the theater ended with 3 screens. Mann added the second screen on October 22, 1976, reopening with ‘Marathon Man’ and ‘The Ritz’. After Dickinson took over from Mann, they split the balcony and it became a tri-plex, reopening on December 9, 1983 with ‘Sudden Impact,’ ‘Yentl,’ and ‘To Be or Not to Be (on 12/16). I remember seeing 'Yentl’ after the remodel and it was a very nice theater. They had added Dolby Stereo to the main floor and the ‘Yentl’ balcony theater. The third theater had no stereo sound. I’m pretty sure the main theater never had any alterations other than the addition of Dolby Stereo. The Plaza was always so much nicer than the tiny, awful basement screens at the Seville 4 down the street. It’s a shame to see it sit vacant.
I thought when they carved up the theatre, there were 3 screens. One in the balcony and two on the first floor. Can anyone comment on that?
Two screens on October 29th, 1976. Grand opening ad in the photo section.
October 9th, 1928 grand opening ad in the photo section. It was “The Show Place of Mid-America”
Last Christmas, I was back in Kansas City and had noted previously that Restoration Hardware had left. I did not know they were going next door in space from the old Halls Store. So what is going on with the Plaza Theater Building? The actual ceiling was never destroyed and only a front portion of the balcony was removed.Come on UMKC restore the Plaza Theater as a Live Performing Arts Center. If not the Plaza – how about the old Lyric (Capri) Theater.
Not related to the history of the theater itself, but I believe the space is now empty. Restoration Hardware is no longer there.
Hey KCB3. I hope that that comes to fruition.
I grew up in Kansas City and loved the Plaza Theater. It was the gem of JC Nickels Co. Sadly the theater was made a 3plex and then closed and remodeled as A Restoration Hardware Store. I understand that much of the auditorium was saved including the Stage and the ceiling even though that space was used as back stock storage the The Floor was modified in a way that it too could actually be restored at a later date back to a theater. The front part of the balcony was sadly removed and they did not use the downstairs lounges and they were left intact. Now that the Restoration Hardware Store is gone, this would be a good time for the theater to be completely restored as a live performing arts venue maybe associated with UMKC, Put the auditorium back to the way it was. There is room to increase the stage and back stage area. Not sure what is going on with the Plaza – too many empty buildings. I understand that even Houston’s has not closed. The Business, Arts and KC Historic Community need to get behind putting the Plaza Theater Back together. The Midland, still beautiful, is now and oversized live music Bar venue and it is deteriorating with the excessive loud music. I saw a lot of problems in the auditorium and the management is doing nothing about it. Very sad. Save and Restore the once majestic Plaza Theater before it is too late.
Held up after a fierce battle with theater staff at approximately 8pm on Sunday, March 31, 1974, while showing Jack Nicholson in Hal Ashby’s film THE LAST DETAIL, in a scuffle against the perpetrator (who had become upset over the $2.25 admission fee) involving an 18-year old girl cashier, a 22-year old usher, and the 20-year old assistant manager. After leaping into the box office and grabbing some bills (and able to resist at least two solid blows from a 25-pound brass pole ordinarily used with ropes for crowd restraint) the robber fled in a light-green Cadillac with up to $300 in loot. [“Fights Way to Plaza Theater Cash,” Kansas City Times, Monday, April 1, 1974, pp.3]
Informational advance story on the Plaza’s Sunday closing was in the Star’s Preview supplement, Friday, April 2, 1999, pp. 10, “It’s Curtains for the Plaza Theater.” (The article claimed 1500 seats.)
Closed by Dickinson for good on Sunday, April 4, 1999, with Clint Eastwood in TRUE CRIME, the cannibalism-centered film RAVENOUS, Rankin-Bass' animated version of THE KING AND I, and THE OTHER SISTER. [Kansas City Star]
aeast. They had a fountain in the middle of the lobby. It was removed when the expanded the concession stand. The wishing well/drinking fountain you are thinking of was in the lounge, downstairs. I don’t recall it being removed was the building was still a theatre.
In the center of the tiled-floor lobby once stood a wishing-well which served as a drinking fountain. So many people bumped into it that it was eventually removed. Large numbers of people walking across those tiles created a sometimes noisy lobby. There was talk of carpeting it over but don’t know if this was ever done. I ushered at the Plaza from 1962-1966.
Trivia: Edward Tanner and Boller Brothers won the coveted Architectural League’s coveted Best Architectural Award in 1928 for the Country Club Plaza housing this theatre with its 100' high tower.
This link is to the December 22, 1928 issue of the “Exhibitors Herald and Picture World” that has pictures and an article about the Plaza Theater. View Link
I just want to comment on the Plaza’s seating capacity as a former employee. Before the theatre was cut up into 3 screens, and before they put in the extra large screen for “The Guns of Naveronne, 70mm engagement which brought the screen out in front of the arch and covered the orchestra pit, and the removal on the organ, the seating was 1800, 600 hundred in the balcony, and 1200 on the 1st floor.
I also have some memories of the stage shows they had there from time to time. One in particular, was the appearance of Dunninger, a mind reading act. The lady who would rent the theatre, didn’t generally use ushers. But I told the assistant mgr.I would work for free, if I could see the show, and she agreed. We went up to the balcony, which was closed, and watched the show, which was sold out on the 1st floor. The guy working with me was a skeptic, and thought that Dunninger was using plants in the audience. After the show, we went back stage to meet him. He was very nice to us. He explained to my friend that he was a mind reader, and could only tell what you knew in your mind, and was not a clairvoyant. He asked my friend if he knew how much change was in his change his pocket. My friend didn’t know, but he went off to check it. When he came back, Dunninger looked at him and said, “39 cents”. The guys jaw dropped and he said,“That’s right”. I don’t, to this day, know how he did it, but I was impressed.
I was an usher at the Plaza for about 3 yrs in the mid1950’s. I have some great memories of the theatre as a single screen. It was a sub-run theatre back then, meaning we got the movies 28 days after they left the 1st run houses. I remember the week we played “The man who knew too much” with James Stewart. I have never seen a movie grip an audience like that one did. We were sold out on Saturday nite, and the movie had the audience in its grip. When something on the screen exciting happened, the entire audience would gasp as if it was one person. No one would get out of their seats to get popcorn. It was quite and experience.
never got to see this as a single screen. By the time I got to Kansas City it had been divided up. I do recall seeing “S.O.B.” “Rhinestone Cowboy”,“Blow-Out” and “Hardcore”. Visually the theatre was a stunning sight as you entered the Country Club Plaza area
I was the person who came in to replace the Manager in 1979. I was there for 12-18 months (stayed til after the Dickinson take over). It was a great theatre. as RT says, the theatre was more a victim of it’s time than the fact of the multiplexes. There was nothing really that could compete with the picture except the Big Glenwood or the Midland downtown.
This site has photos of the Plaza Theatre, along with other KC theatres -
View link
My late father, Breck Fagin, was the Plaza Theatre’s first manager. I have a black and white photograph of him from about 1930 standing in front of the theatre aside a big birthday cake that says “Plaza Theatre’s 2nd Anniversary”. I will post it on this website when the site is again able to accept photos.
Renewing link.