Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
151 S. Santa Fe Avenue,
Salina,
KS
67402
151 S. Santa Fe Avenue,
Salina,
KS
67402
3 people
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Related Websites
Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Dickinson Theatres, Fox Midwest Amusement Corp.
Architects: Carl Boller, Robert O. Boller
Firms: Boller Brothers
Functions: Performing Arts
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Fox-Watson Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
785.827.1998
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- May 27, 2011 — UltraStar closes three southern California operations
- Apr 22, 2004 — Salina's Fox Theatre Wins Peservation Award
- Dec 30, 2003 — Renovation Consultant Writes Book
This theatre opened on February 23, 1931 as the 1,455-seat Fox-Watson Theatre. The opening movie was Victor McLaglen & Fay Wray in “Not Exactly Gentlemen”. It was built by W.W. Watson, a weathy Salina businessman, and operated by Fox Midwest Amusement Corp. There was originally a neon lit tower at the top of the corner entrance, but it was struck by lightning in 1954 and had to be removed. It was closed by Dickinson Theatres in 1987. Two years later Dickinson Theatres gifted the theatre to the city and the city replaced the roof and it was mothballed. It wasn’t until August 1997 that the city took over the theatre and plans were drawn to begin restoration of the theatre to its original splendor.
By 2001, supporters had raised nearly $3 million to restore and renovate the old Fox Watson Theatre into a premiere performing arts center.
The renamed Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts reopened on March 8, 2003. In 2019 fundraising began to restore the tower over the entrance and restoration work was completed in January 2021.
The theatres is listed on the Register of Historic Places.
Contributed by
Joel Weide, William Gabel
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Their website is http://www.thefoxtheatre.org.
The Fox Watson Theatre is located at 159 S. Santa Fe Ave..
Here is some additional background on this theater:
http://tinyurl.com/y5bap4
Here is an August 2007 story from the Topeka Capital Journal:
http://tinyurl.com/77g639
According to the item about the theater’s 40th anniversary that was run in Boxoffice of August 30, 1971, the exact opening date of the Fox was February 23, 1931.
From 1940 an image of the Watson, Grand and Jayhawk Theaters in Salina.
From 2010, photos of the Watson Theatre in Salina. [Please click on thumbnails for larger view].
Adding link. Thanks!
Opened on February 23, 1931.