Princess Theatre

The original Princess Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas, was a silent film theatre which catered to African-American patrons. It was a new-build facility on N. 3rd Street and what is now Richmond Avenue (formerly a part of Parallel) seating just 300 people and was built where a residential property once stood. The Princess Theatre not only played films but had live entertainment, as well. It was also a voting place becoming a hub of activity. The local African-American newspaper, however, editorialized against the theatre because it was White-owned and operated. So its opening date is a bit unclear but was likely in 1917 operating toward end of lease in 1936.

The Princess Theatre operated with different management from the independently-run Dunbar Theatre, also an African-American movie theatre in roughly the same neighborhood. The Princess Theatre would make the transition to sound under new operator United Theatre Enterprises (UTE). UTE would take on the Dunbar Theatre creating a Deco-era sound film, the Regal Theatre. UTE equipped the Princess Theatre with sound to keep the venue viable beginning on October 24, 1930 with Hoot Gibson in “The Concentratin' Kid” supported by Episode one of “The Lightning Express” with Al Ferguson as “Whispering Smith”.

UTE would then find a new location just about five blocks away on 5th Street for their third theatre in the neighborhood on the Kansas side during 1935/6. (They also owned the Paseo Theatre in K.C., Missouri). However, at the eleventh hour, UTE reversed course and decided two theatres was enough. The circuit decided to move the Princess Theatre to the new and larger 775-seat location as the New Princess Theatre, ending the N. 3d Street venue’s run.

The Princess Theatre closed October 19, 1936 with Otto Kruger in “Dracula’s Daughter” supported by a short subject comedy. Two days later the New Princess Theatre opened on 5th Street. The former N. 3d Street location next became a nightclub called the Club Hawaiian Garden. The building has since been torn down along with the entire neighboring business district.

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