Elite Theatre

An NRHP form for the Ellsworth Downtown Historic District lists the Elite Theatre/Larkin Building at 123 N. Douglas Avenue. It gives this history of the building:

“The Elite Theater, a motion picture house, opened in this building, also known as the Larkin Building, on October 1, 1909 under the management of Karl Bomshein (Ellsworth Reporter. 1 October 1909). By 1920, the building was in use as a grocery (Sanborn). According to the Sanborn maps, this building was built between 1905 and 1911 -indicating that the Elite Theater was the first occupant at the time of the building’s construction. Before then, the lot was occupied by a small one-story cobbler’s shop. The name ‘Larkin Building’ implies an association with town founder and early hotelier Arthur Larkin (see #52- 201-203 N. Douglas and 203-213 E. N. Main following #83). Larkin continued to invest in the town until his death November 4, 1911. In 1960, the building was a bus depot. It is now occupied by the CR Old West Trading Post.”

Note that this building was apparently brand new when the theater opened. The 1905 map has a tiny wooden shack here. The 1920 Sanborn (from March) does not show the theater, but a grocery, so the closing date may not be accurate. The KHRI entry is here: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=053-401 , with a very poor 2004 photo.