Crown Uptown Theatre

3207 E. Douglas Avenue,
Wichita, KS 67218

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Crown Uptown Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Architects: Carl Boller, Robert O. Boller

Firms: Boller Brothers

Functions: Dinner Theater, Live Performances

Styles: Atmospheric, Spanish Moorish

Previous Names: Uptown Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 316.681.1566

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News About This Theater

Crown Uptown Theatre

The Uptown Theatre opened on July 16, 1928 with Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer”. It operated as as a first run venue. It went through a remodel and conversion to Cinerama in 1961.

It ran 3 strip Cinerama from 10/25/61 thru 2/11/64 and then converted to 70mm running Cinerama still and then road show presentations. It closed in 1975 only to go through another remodel and conversion to a dinner theatre in 1976 presenting broadway style shows. It was given the new name at that time of the Crown Uptown Theatre.

They also renovated the theatrs 1920’s style marquee and vertical to its original beauty.

Myself and six other pilots took in the show and dinner (buffet style) in 2003. The food was good but the show was outstanding. The theatre is a real beauty.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 11 comments)

claydoh77
claydoh77 on November 23, 2004 at 6:45 am

Check out the link below for a very cool 360 Degree tour of the auditorium as it looks now after a beautiful restoration/renovation. Don’t forget to look up at the sky.
View link

This was one of the first Boller Brothers atmospheric theatres. The auditorium was to have the ambience of a Spanish/Moorish open-air courtyard. The Boller Brothers also used similar designs for the Granada in Kansas City, KS and the Poncan in Ponca City, OK among others.

atmos
atmos on February 26, 2005 at 2:12 am

An issue of “Marquee” states theatre opened on 16 Jul 1928 and originally had 1464 seats.

brentclarkf
brentclarkf on November 10, 2005 at 4:22 pm

My wife and I recently visited this theatre. We happened to be in this area of Wichita and were lucky enough to be given a tour. The lobby, highlighted by impressive light fixtures and wooden columns, has been restored. Although it has been converted to dinner theatre and the seats removed to make way for tables, the auditorium is still quite beautiful. The overall feeling truly is one of being outside with a twinkling night sky overhead. The Crown Uptown is yet another example of a Boller Brothers masterpiece.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra on May 16, 2006 at 7:46 pm

The Crown Uptown is Wichita’s first atmospheric theater. The Orpheum Theatre on 200 N. Broadway is considered pre-atmospheric.

raybradley
raybradley on December 10, 2006 at 10:12 am

Another 1928 Boller Bros. atmospheric simular to the Uptown was the (1928-1952) Ritz Theatre in Oklahoma City, which was razed long ago.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra on January 5, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Ted Morris the owner and founder of the Crown Uptown died December 30, 2008. It is truly a loss for the Wichita theater community.
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/648503.html

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on April 3, 2012 at 3:44 pm

Okay, May 15 1974 has All seats 50 cents for “EXECUTIVE ACTION” and “THE GETAWAY'.

kwilkin1962
kwilkin1962 on September 11, 2013 at 8:18 pm

The Uptown opened on July 16, 1928. The first movie was “The Jazz Singer”, starring Al Jolson.

OKCdoorman
OKCdoorman on November 27, 2024 at 5:24 pm

On cusp of demolition, December 3 vote by city council will decide on allowing expansion but current owner reportedly will tear down if denied (paywalled story in today’s Wichita Eagle although the local KSN-TV website has a free November 21 2024 feature on the situation).

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