Electric Theatre
546 Minnesota Avenue,
Kansas City,
KS
66101
546 Minnesota Avenue,
Kansas City,
KS
66101
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: Carl Boller, Robert O. Boller
Firms: Boller Brothers
Styles: Spanish Renaissance
Nearby Theaters
Located on the site of an earlier 3,000-seat Electric Theatre (1902-1921). This Boller Brothers-designed theater opened in 1922 and was closed May 13, 1969. It was demolished in 1976. The Reardon Civic Center is on the site today.
Contributed by
edmond hilton
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
I remember the Electric from when I was a kid in the 50’s. It always seemed a little creepy to me. It was probably rundown by then and maybe not playing first run movies. We usually went to the Avenue, Granada, or another one I remember being call the State.
Interior photo View link
An architectural website about the building that currently occupies the site says: “The 3,000 seat Electric Theater, built with a full orchestra pit in 1902 for vaudeville (before silent films) saw its final curtain call followed by a wrecking ball in 1969.” Was the Boller Bros. theater a remodel?
The link below talks about the ‘original’ Electric being torn down and replaced by new theater in the Spanish Renaissance style around 1922.
View link
This article talks about the Electric being built in 1906
View link
So there were two theaters on the same site.
This link shows a postcard street scene with the Electric marquee visible on the right side.
View link
On a index of photos in the Wyandotte County Museum is:
1965-32-8 Front of Electric Theatre, 8/10/1921 (neg)
Unfortunately, they don’t have any photos online.
The Wyandotte County Museum has several old pictures of the Electric. If someone feels the urge, here is the information:
1982-5-598 Electric Theatre, c.1930,razed for urban renewal, 1971
Marquee reads, “William Powell and Big Cast in ‘The
Benson Murder Case’ Screen Song-A Show for the Whole
Family-Sound News”.
1982-5-1446 Electric Theater, 500 block Minnesota. Marquee
advertising George Raft, Miriam Hopkins and Frederick
March in “All of Me”.
5-1-26-a Minn. Ave.– Electric Theatre, Askins, c.1970
5-1-26-b Minn. Ave.– Electric Theatre, Town House Hotel, c.1970
5-1-28-b Minn. Ave.– Electric Theatre, Jay’s Clothing Store c. 1965
5-1-30-b Minn.Ave.– DeGoler’s Drug Store, Electric Theatre,
c.1970
5-1-30-c Minn. Ave.– DeGoler’s Drug Store, Electric Theatre,c 1970
5-1-31-b Minn. Ave. – Electric Theatre, c.1965
5-1-51-a Minn.Ave.– Electric Theater
I am looking for any information about a wedding that was held atop of the Electric in 1926. The wedding was for my grandparents (John Thomas Reynolds and Caterina Maria Ellena). The wedding was held on top of the Electric after winning a radio contest and broadcast over the air. All the area merchants donated items for wedding gifts. We are trying to figure what the contest was for and why it was held on top of the Electric. We have a few articles, but not much! Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Thomas Reynolds 620-875-2800
Here is a circa 1954 photo of the Electric Theatre.
Here are three photos of the Electric Theatre, including two interior shots, from the November 3, 1928, issue of Motion Picture News.
Photo http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/305893
Closed as an independent on Tuesday, January 14, 1969 for two weeks. The pp. 18 ad listed VALLEY OF THE DOLLS showing at “1:35 Only” and BANDOLERO at “9:35 Only” (a heck of an intermission). 1/15/69 Commonwealth banner ad, pp. 8A, stated: “CLOSED FOR REMODELING…WILL REOPEN JAN. 29TH."
Advance ad in the 1/28/69 Commonwealth Theaters bar, pp. 14: "TOMORROW! The REOPENING of the ELECTRIC THEATRE for your convenience and comfort! Gregory PECK in THE STALKING MOON. Watch tomorrows commonwealth (sic) ad for show times!” Re-opened as announced on Wednesday, January 29, 1969, with said feature. Closed for good without explanation on Tuesday, May 13, 1969 with THE BIG BOUNCE from an unpublished Elmore Leonard book and THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH. Final ad wording: “Carroll Baker & Leigh Taylor Young Show…and Tell!”, pp. 10. [Kansas City Times/Star]