Jayhawk State Theatre of Kansas
720 S.W. Jackson Street,
Topeka,
KS
66601
720 S.W. Jackson Street,
Topeka,
KS
66601
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The Jayhawk is one of the 24 theaters in my new book, “After the Final Curtain: The Fall of the American Movie Theater,” which is available on Amazon or your local bookstore
I remember my friend Jeff’s dad ran the projector at the State Theater in 1969. He use to get us into the theater for free. I must have watched Her Majesty’s Secret Service 30 times. I’m so glad they are restoring it. I’ll have to take a trip to visit from Nevada, when it’s completed. Dawn
Announced for several months, but didn’t see it on CT yet—2nd annual THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW screening here this month, benefiting additional restoration work: http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Rocky-Horror-Picture-Show-event-at-Jayhawk-Theater-330125471.html; official re-opening was supposed to be this year but don’t see indications confirming it.
I recently photographed the Jayhawk Theatre – check out some photos on After the Final Curtain
New link: http://jayhawktheatre.com/
Everything is expired in every link!
The website has been stripped of all content except for the basic template. I wonder what’s happening…
There is an article about the Jayhawk in the September 4, 1926, issue of The Reel Journal.
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Here are the original flickr links.
sign: View link
interior: View link
I just took a tour and found out that they are in the process of going out to local businesses to get money.
Here is a photo of the interior in 2007: View link
Here is a photo of the neon sign that is on top of the Jayhawk Hotel in 2006: View link
The Jayhawk State Theatre of Kansas is located in Jayhawk Towers and The Commonwealth Building in Downtown Topeka, Kansas, near the corner of 7th and Jackson. The theatre is the official state theatre of Kansas, as designated by the Kansas Legislature, and is a 501©(3) organization. All contributions to the organization are tax deductible. For extensive infomation on the theatre’s past and future, please visit the History and Future sections on this web site.
Tours of the theatre are available to individiuals or groups at any time by simply scheduling an appointment. Although the theatre is not yet renovated, meetings and other special events can still be held within the theatre. For more information, or to schedule a tour, call (785) 233-HAWK (4295).
They will take you on tours of the Jayhawk if you ask. Their phone number is listed on jayhawktheatre.com. You dont necessarily need to be in a group either. There are usually people available through the week from 1 to 3 pm.
I am going on a tour wednesday Feb 15th, and I am gonna pop the big question as to whether or not the Jayhawk could bring back the midnight movie circuit long abandoned from when the Dickinson closed in the 80’s. Topeka needs a place to show Rocky Horror Again.
Sad news… the schedule has been pushed back for when the Jayhawk will be open fully. The theater is run by a non-profit group that is tax deductable, see site for details. The contributions are behind schedule, hence the delay.
Sorry I forgot to include the offical website of the theater which does contain pictures and other information, it is;
http://www.jayhawktheater.com
It is an intro page that will take you to the welcome page.
My wife is a board member of this. I want to pass on the news that the schedule to have the Jayhawk Theater fully restored is scheduled by December/January 2007/2008. They have limited openings to the theater now. They will be open for St. Patricks day 2005 from 11-3pm to tour the theater. Please visit offical website for future details.
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.
The Jayhawk Theatre is located at 107 W. 7th Street and it seated 1344 people.
More information about the theater and its history is available at www.jayhawktheatre.com