Electric Theatre
215 N. Main Street,
Independence,
MO
64050
215 N. Main Street,
Independence,
MO
64050
1 person
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The Electric Theatre was one of the first theatres to operate in downtown Independence. The building was constructed between 1885 & 1892 as a grocery store. Located on N. Main Street. Seating was right at 500. The Electric Theatre opened between 1908 and 1916. It closed in the early-1950’s.
Contributed by
Church Van Bibber
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The book Independence, by Richard N. Piland and Marietta Wilson Boenker (Google Books preview), says that the Electric Theatre was in the building at 215 North Main from the 1910s into the 1940s. This building is currently occupied by the Knitcraft yarn shop. I’ve been unable to find the Electric Theatre mentioned in any of the early trade journals.
I’ve now found the Electric Theatre mentioned in a few trade journal items from the 1920s. A 1926 item in The Reel Journal mentioned the Electric as one of three Independence houses being operated by Glen W. Dickinson Enterprises. The others were the Lewis Theatre and the Elliot Theatre.
The building which later housed the Electric was built between 1885 and 1892, and is a grocery on the 1907 Sanborn, so it opened between 1908-1916.