Shafer Theatre
W. Frank Street,
Edgereton,
MO
64444
W. Frank Street,
Edgereton,
MO
64444
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The Shafer Theatre opened in 1929. The theatre seated 210 and closed in 1954.
Contributed by
Chris1982
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Local optometrist Dr. Abe Shafer, Sr. built the Shafer Theatre and Airdome next door to each other opening on June 5, 1915 in the Airdome and later that year with the hardtop. The Airdome’s 1930 season featured RCA sound on film technology which the company said was the smallest town in the United States with a sound on film venue. Edgerton had just 427 residents at that time. The equipment was moved into the Shafer Theatre that fall.
The 1930s were challenging and local Judge Abe Shafer, Jr. closed the theater twice due to lack of ticket sales. The venues had operated seasonally until the Shafer Airdome’s final season ender, September 8, 1938’s “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Due to Judge Shafer’s death, the family sold the theaters in 1938 to George and A.F. “Peck” Baker of Baker Enterprises which operated it briefly before closing.
The Shafer family reopened the hardtop theater before closing it in 1942. Mrs. Shafer had said that Edgerton’s tiny population and proximity to nearby Kansas City - about 35 miles away - posed great challenges. The local merchants reopened the theater operating it from 1942 until its permanent closure.