Mainstreet Theatre
122-124 W. Main Street,
Chanute,
KS
66720
122-124 W. Main Street,
Chanute,
KS
66720
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This theatre first appears on the 1924 Sanborn. It was located in a two-story brick commercial building, which was constructed to replace a similar structure destroyed by fire on December 10, 1910.
The 1916 map shows it with two bay windows, and it likely originally had a similar appearance to the building to the west. At that point, it was divided into two storefronts, but the 1924 map shows the entire space used by the theatre.
The theatre was open at least as late as 1957. The building today is in fair shape. It has a rather bland stucco facade with the bays removed. This remodel likely dates to its time as a theatre. There is a simple brick ticket booth on the right side of the building, which is currently home to a radio station.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The January 7, 1928 issue of Motion Picture News had this item: “A NEW deal in Kansas City, effective immediately, is one between Universal Theatres and Midland Theatre and Realty Company, through which the latter acquires a 50 per cent interest in 24 Missouri and Kansas theaters.” The Peoples Theatre and Main Street Theatre in Chanute were noted as being among the Universal houses in which Midland had acquired an interest.
Eleven years after the previous citation, the January 7, 1939 Motion Picture Herald said that “Ray Walsh, operator of the Mainstreet at Chanute, Kan., is reseating and redecorating his house.”
Thanks, Joe. Here’s the comment I put on the Peoples page, and should have copied here:
In 1927, the Peoples and the Mainstreet were operated by the Harding Circuit (Capitol Enterprises). In 1928, both were operated by the Midland Theater and Realty Co. of Kansas City, although Universal owned 50% of both houses. By 1930, both were part of the massive Wesco Corporation (owned by Fox).