Strand Theatre

Joe Vogel on October 9, 2014 at 3:44 am

The description of the building at 1913 Lakin Avenue in a brochure with a walking tour of Great Bend says this:

“Charles Andress, famous circus man and entrepreneur, built this brick building in 1909. In the winter months, when he wasn’t on the road, Andress managed the Strand Theatre, which continued in business until 1954. Since that time, the space has been used as a retail store.”

The theater trade journals of the period don’t mention a Strand Theatre at Great Bend. There were houses called the Echo, the Lakin, the Regent, and the Elite, which was later renamed the Lyric.

A conflicting report about a theater Charles Andress owned in Great Bend came from the August 1, 1927, issue of The Hutchinson News:

“VETERAN SHOWMAN BUYS NEW GREAT BEND THEATRE.

“Great Bend, Kan., Aug. 1— Charles Andress, veteran Great Bend circus man, now retired, has bought the fine new theatre, how being built here, The State. The name will be changed and it will be known as the Andress.

“Several of tho improvements planned for the theatre but which have been held up because of lack of finances will now be finished.

“A. C. Woolen, manager of the theatre will be retained as manager, R. F. Rickart of Elkhart, Kan., who financed the building of the theatre, last week decided to withdraw from the enterprise.”

The trade journals don’t mention either a State Theatre or an Andress Theatre in Great Bend, either. I don’t know if these two sources refer to two different theaters, or if the history of one theater has gotten muddled over the years. An article saying that the Strand had closed permanently ran in the October 21, 1957, issue of the Great Bend Daily Tribune. That article said that the Strand had opened “…about 25 years ago.”