Lyric Theatre
1029 Central Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
1029 Central Avenue,
Kansas City,
MO
64105
4 people
favorited this theater
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The Capri Theatre closed in June of 1964 for a conversion to Cinerama and re-emerged with “Circus World” on July 1, 1964. The Capri converted back to regular widescreen presentation and ended its movie run when AMC Theatres closed the venue on August 8, 1971 with “Ryan’s Daughter.”
Opened March 29th, 1959
The news that the building would be converted into a YMCA was false. Only the front section of the building survives. The auditorium has been razed and a new structure erected in its place. The Lyric Theatre is gone.
2019 construction photo added credit Jeff Weis.
This building will be revamped into a YMCA. Very sad.
The 1959 “Ben-Hur” ran a solid year at the Capri. Other runs: “Porgy and Bess” and the Glenn Ford “Cimarron.”
I believe UMKC is building a new building for the Conservatory of Music and Dance close to the Kauffman Center. The Lyric Theatre was purchased by DST Systems, Inc.
Looks like the building is closed since the Opera company moved to the Kauffmann in 2011. Their website does not indicate if they still own the building or what its current status is.
Is there any updates for the Lyric Theater – it would be perfect for UMKC and there is plenty of space to expand. It would be sad to loose another historic downtown Kansas City Theater.
Saw many roadshows there as a kid. I specifically remember Paint Your Wagon. Great place. The last time I was in there was for a jazz concert in the 1970s
The NRHP nomination form for the Eleventh Street Historic District, which includes the Lyric Theatre, says that the Ararat Shrine Temple was designed by the Kansas City architectural firm of Owen, Sayler, & Payson. William Sayler had joined the firm in 1925. Prevously, Albert S. Owen and Charles H. Payson had been partnered with Robin B. Carswell, and in 1923 the firm of Owen, Payson, & Carswell had designed another Masonic building which would become a theater and be listed on the NRHP: the Temple Theatre at Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Sorry! Just read cerjda01 who got it right and was here first…
To answer rivoli157 I am pretty sure STAR! played at the Glenwood in Overland Pk, Ks… Is Paris Burning? was the first roadshow to play the Glenwood. Hello, Dolly! Oliver! and the 70MM Gone With the Wind played the Glenwood. As for the Saxon Theatre, that was actually the Midland when it went thru a brief name change in the 60’s.
OK roadshow runs in KC. I know I went to all of them just about. Still have a buncha programs from them someplace. Capri – Cleopatra / Fall of the Roman Empire / Doctor Zhivago / My Fair Lady / Circus World / Paint Your Wagon / Camelot / The Shoes of the Fisherman Midland – Sound of Music / The Bible / Doctor Doolittle / Man of LaMancha / Hawaii Empirt – Patton / Chitty Chitty Bang Bang / Far from the Madding Crowd / Ice Station Zebra / Grand Prix / How the West was Won / Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World Glenwood – Sound of Music (subrun-roadshow)/ Is Paris Burning / Oliver! / Star! / Song of Norway / Hello Dolly West Side Story did play the Plaza – unusual booking and Lawrence of Arabia played at a theatre called the Saxon according to the KC Star (even tho is was on strike at the time of the run) and Yeah! I’m old but I know my movies and my theatres in KC.
anyone know where the roadshow engagement of “Star!” played in Kansas City?
The Kansas City Star recently published an article stating that the University of Missouri-Kansas City is exploring moving the Conservatory of Music and Dance from the campus to downtown’s Lyric Theater, and use it as a student rehearsal and performance space.
Any one remember where these road shows played in Kansas City?
Camelot, Paint Your Wagon, West Side Story.
For some reason, I believe West Side was at the Plaza. Anyone able to confirm? I didn’t move to KC until 1976 and that was after the days of the road show.
I know the Capri was home to Cleopatra, My Fair Lady and the Midland had The Sound of Music and Funny Girl.
This site has several vintage photos of the Lyric, along with other KC theatres -
View link
Here’s a recent picture of the old Capri.
View link
The Lyric Theatre building has been sold to a local data processing and real estate company, DST. No plans have been announced for when the Kansas City Lyric Opera moves out of the building to take up residence in the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
LEGENDARY FRANKIE VALENS 2006/2007 Oldies concert tour
B U L L E T I N – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “Book Frankie now – while there are concert dates open……..”
INTRODUCING,
Frankie Valens
Former legendary pop-singer FRANKIE VALENS, who toured in the late 60s and early 70s is back. Frankie has returned to provide entertainment with an ‘oldies’ show featuring songs from the 50s, 60s and early 70s and includes his recordings of “This Magic Moment,” and “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”
Visit www.frankievalens.com (complete with sounds bites)
Frankie loves to entertain the crowds. The crowds can dance or just listen to the ‘golden oldies’ sung by what has been described as the ‘golden voice’ of FRANKIE VALENS. Frankie’s wife Phyllis joins him in singing famous duet songs from the past.
Frankie has been in concert with such notable acts as: THE BYRDS, CRYSTAL GALE, THE PLATTERS AND THE BOXTOPS. Frankie has appeared at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City with former President Reagan; the Waupaka Performing Art Center in Wisconsin; and the famous Orpheum Theatre in Wichita, Kansas where Red Skelton appeared.
Note: Frankie Valens will be inducted into the Music Hall of Fame later this year in Wichita, Kansas at the Museum of World Treasures, who is planning a musical exhibit and creating a special CD edition of Frankie’s greatest recordings.
BOOKING OLDIE CONCERTS FOR 2006/2007
Call 316-789-0051
Please call or e-mail us to let us know if any of these dates are available: 316-789-0051 or
From the offices of
FVM Headquarters
PMB # 322
620 N Rock Road, Ste 230
Derby, KS 67037
316-789-0051 or
913-378-6874
www.frankievalens.com
Frankie & Phyllis Valens
In the 1960s, I visited my grandparents every summer in Kansas City. My grandmother took me to the Capri in 1965 for my first roadshow movie – “My Fair Lady”. I’ll never forget it as long as I live. The huge screen, the stereo sound, the gorgeous lobby decorated with flowered parasols, the hardcover souvenir program. What a beautiful theater and a treasured memory.
thanks for posting the photos! Nice memories!
I grew up in Kansas City and think I remember attending movies here. I am trying to find the photos referenced above, to refresh my memory. I remember alot of movie theatres in my childhood and sometimes they all blend together some. I would have been rather young when the trouble started there, though. This morning I was looking to see how many theatres are being used as a MUSIC HALL and was surprised to see none, except for symphony and opera. We’ve been thinking our theatre in Port St. Joe, FL would make a great Music Hall!
Tour of Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas Theatres in 2004
From June 26 through July 1, 2004 the Theatre Historical Society of America will tour a number of theatres in Kansas City Missouri and surrounding areas, including theatres in Lamar, Joplin, Richmond, St. Joseph and Springfield, MO, as well as Miami, OK, and these cities in Kansas: Leavenworth, Kansas City, Emporia, El Dorado, Augusta, Wichita, Hutchinson, McPherson, Salina, Concordia, and Topeka. More information is contained on their web site: http://www.HistoricTheatres.org and special photos and information concerning the Kansas City theatres: UPTOWN and the MIDLAND is available on this temporary page of their site at: http://www2.hawaii.edu/~angell/thsa/fromarch.html A glossy brochure about this “Heart of America” Conclave is available from the Society’s headquarters listed on their homepage, via E-mail to the Ex. Director, or via snail mail. Membership in the Society is not required to attend the Conclave and tour the theatres, but fees do apply as detailed on their site. Bring your camera and lots of film, for it is usually difficult or impossible to enter these theatres for photos, and some of them will surely not be with us in the years to come.