Imperial Theatre

The Imperial Theatre was located in the Roberts Building. The Roberts was a new build, multipurpose building during the peak of the natural gas and oil boom that would see Coffeyville’s population increase six-fold. The Imperial had a cheerful front well lit upon opening. James Alifer of the competing Star Theatre took the venue on in October of 1910.

In addition to movies, he tried lotteries with numbers and giveaways to no avail. When the City said that Sunday shows were no longer allowed, that seemed to be the end of the road. The Imperial relied on Thanhouser Company films and Alifer closed with three on June 3, 1911. They were Harry Benham in “The Regimental Ball,” Florence Lawrence’s popular, “The Call of the Circus,” and the dreary, “Avenged” still for just a nickel. Later in the month, the space was retrofitted for a retail clothing store.

Alifer would continue the Star here and Fort Smith only to get beaten up at the Coffeyville location over a questionable business deal that involved two competitors in town. The Mayor of Coffeyville ordered the Alifer’s Star closed as he recovered from his injuries and as the legal case that followed got cleared up.

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