Elite Theater
216 S. Main Street,
Pratt,
KS
67124
216 S. Main Street,
Pratt,
KS
67124
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This small theater is one of two which appear operating next to each other on the October 1911 Sanborn. It was located in a fairly plain two story brick storefront which which had been recently constructed. This area contained only small wooden shacks on the 1905 map.
For whatever reason, this building was slightly wider at the front, creating an odd dogleg in the two theater spaces. This one had a much shallower auditorium, but did contain a balcony and a deeper stage. It had definitely closed by 1916, when the map shows boots & shoes sold here.
The building today is in good shape, aside from an ugly 1970s(?) remodel to the ground floor. It is used as offices for an investment company.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 1 comments)
The building at 216 S. Main Street was the second location of Pratt’s Phoenix Theater and the first location of the Elite Theatre. I’m hoping that this big ugly url will work (I’m unfamiliar with the web site’s format.) It has a photo of the first Elite Theatre and a few lines of text about it, from a book about Pratt published in 1911. Another page in the same book pictures the third Phoenix Theatre and provides a bit more information about the Elite’s early history.
Messers C. I. Rice and C. F. Bays opened Pratt’s first Phoenix Theatre in the Williamson Block (the location of which I’ve as yet been unable to identify) and later moved it to this building at 216 S. Main Street. They also opened an Airdome theater in 1910. When they dissolved their partnership, apparently in early 1911, Mr. Rice acquired the building next door at 214 S. Main and converted it into the new location of the Phoenix Theatre, while Mr. Bays retained this house, renaming it the Elite Theatre. At some point the Elite was removed to a larger building at 117-119 S. Main Street.