Elite Theatre

204 N. Douglas Avenue,
Ellsworth, KS 67439

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Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 18, 2018 at 12:24 pm

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.”

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on October 18, 2018 at 11:02 am

Correction: opening date was October 4, 1909 (my error; sorry)