SethG
commented about
Airdomeon
May 18, 2024 at 11:56 pm
That must be the same place. It does seem odd nothing ever replaced it, but it is sort of on the fringe of downtown.
SethG
commented about
Airdomeon
May 18, 2024 at 5:50 pm
The address would today be somewhere on S Main (Chestnut was renamed sometime after 1918). I don’t find any evidence of an airdome on the July 1911 map, but it only went as far south as Wilson (now 6th), and only shows the north side of that intersection. That is really far out of downtown though, so I suspect this was somewhere between 7th and 9th streets. Nothing on the 1918 map, but if it was dismantled in 1916, there wouldn’t be. Comparing the 1911 and 1918 maps makes it hard to see where it would have fit. Possibly the west side of Main just south of 8th, or the NE corner of Main and 7th.
The earlier airdome would have been at the corner of what was then Chestnut and Normal. The only logical place would have been the NE corner, everything else is occupied by the same buildings on the 1905 and 1911 maps.
Some of the history here is confused. The G.A.R. Hall was on what was then 2nd St (Now 11th). It first appears on the 1899 map, having been constructed sometime after 1891. It was a large one story wooden building, with a stage and scenery at the rear. It appears up to the 1911 map, but the Jan. 1918 map shows a two story brick city hall building on the site with the address 133-135 W 2nd Ave (it seems to still be under construction). This does still contain a very small G.A.R. Hall on one corner, but it can’t have seated more than about 30 people. The Electric must have closed by late 1917.
If a later Star Theater opened here, that was an entirely separate operation, and involved either the demolition or remodeling of the city hall. The Electric for sure would have been located at 133-135 W 11th St, which is currently a dumpy modern bank building. Status should be ‘demolished’, and the functions removed. All reference to either the Star or Electric should be removed, and a separate entry created for the other theater. We can be sure the Electric was here, the Star is less certain.
Description needs to be corrected. This is not at 9th, it’s three lots north of 8th. This contributor is obsessed with putting things at corners, and gets them wrong all the time. Of course, the Dream opening date is wrong too. It opened in 1924. If Boller did the remodel after the fire, that wasn’t until 1947.
Should be listed as demolished. If the address is correct, the 1905 map shows this space as ‘To Be Penny Amusement Parlor’. The space next door at 421 is the Peoples Theatre on that map. By Nov. 1913, this space is vacant, and 421 is selling boots & shoes. Both were part of a large set of three story brick storefronts constructed prior to 1883. The appearance may have been similar to the still extant portion at 417 (419 has been remuddled). The Masonic Temple was constructed in 1914, which involved the demolition of 421-425.
Should we give the older theater a separate listing? The NRHP nomination says that the three remaining walls of the old Dream were incorporated into the new structure, so you could say they are at least partly the same building.
Address is wrong. This is at 315, and has suffered a bad remodel. It is used as apartments. Was built sometime after 1913. The Kansas historical society says 1890, but that’s very dubious, and based on two smaller buildings previously on this site.
The address should be 612. This can’t have opened prior to 1911, since the Dec. 1910 map shows a racket store here. The building was extended to the rear in the conversion. The building dated to sometime before 1883.
The building seems to have been constructed before 1883. The 1901 map shows a saloon here, but the Dec. 1910 Sanborn shows ‘Moving Pictures’ here. The current dumpy facade likely dates from just after the closure of this theater in 1954 (as the Madrid). It’s now a podiatrist’s office.
The description needs to be updated. It describes the cheesy fake entrance stuck on the back of the building as if it were the front. It’s been removed as well.
The Unique name never belonged to this building. It belonged to an airdome on this site through at least the Fall of 1905. The Peoples name definitely also belonged to the airdome, but possibly also to the permanent building.
The address is wrong. Should be 524-526. The building was looking very seedy in the 2000s, but has been renovated, probably closer to its historic appearance. It is used as an event space.
I’m going to correct myself a bit. It appears this section of the building existed prior to 1884. It seems to have been remodeled at some point to match the Miller Building, but there are some differences, mainly in the windows and structural ironwork.
The ugly remodels have been removed, although this portion of the building no longer has an entry. It is used as offices.
The building seems to have been originally called the Miller Building, and was constructed sometime between 1897 and 1901. This was the eastern end of the structure. The 1912 map shows this space as vacant, so the theater may have opened earlier, unless of course a business or two came and went prior to 1926.
That must be the same place. It does seem odd nothing ever replaced it, but it is sort of on the fringe of downtown.
The address would today be somewhere on S Main (Chestnut was renamed sometime after 1918). I don’t find any evidence of an airdome on the July 1911 map, but it only went as far south as Wilson (now 6th), and only shows the north side of that intersection. That is really far out of downtown though, so I suspect this was somewhere between 7th and 9th streets. Nothing on the 1918 map, but if it was dismantled in 1916, there wouldn’t be. Comparing the 1911 and 1918 maps makes it hard to see where it would have fit. Possibly the west side of Main just south of 8th, or the NE corner of Main and 7th.
The earlier airdome would have been at the corner of what was then Chestnut and Normal. The only logical place would have been the NE corner, everything else is occupied by the same buildings on the 1905 and 1911 maps.
I’ve added a Sanborn view of the G.A.R. Hall.
Some of the history here is confused. The G.A.R. Hall was on what was then 2nd St (Now 11th). It first appears on the 1899 map, having been constructed sometime after 1891. It was a large one story wooden building, with a stage and scenery at the rear. It appears up to the 1911 map, but the Jan. 1918 map shows a two story brick city hall building on the site with the address 133-135 W 2nd Ave (it seems to still be under construction). This does still contain a very small G.A.R. Hall on one corner, but it can’t have seated more than about 30 people. The Electric must have closed by late 1917.
If a later Star Theater opened here, that was an entirely separate operation, and involved either the demolition or remodeling of the city hall. The Electric for sure would have been located at 133-135 W 11th St, which is currently a dumpy modern bank building. Status should be ‘demolished’, and the functions removed. All reference to either the Star or Electric should be removed, and a separate entry created for the other theater. We can be sure the Electric was here, the Star is less certain.
The address is wrong, it’s 815.
Description needs to be corrected. This is not at 9th, it’s three lots north of 8th. This contributor is obsessed with putting things at corners, and gets them wrong all the time. Of course, the Dream opening date is wrong too. It opened in 1924. If Boller did the remodel after the fire, that wasn’t until 1947.
Should be listed as demolished. If the address is correct, the 1905 map shows this space as ‘To Be Penny Amusement Parlor’. The space next door at 421 is the Peoples Theatre on that map. By Nov. 1913, this space is vacant, and 421 is selling boots & shoes. Both were part of a large set of three story brick storefronts constructed prior to 1883. The appearance may have been similar to the still extant portion at 417 (419 has been remuddled). The Masonic Temple was constructed in 1914, which involved the demolition of 421-425.
Thanks for the research!
Should we give the older theater a separate listing? The NRHP nomination says that the three remaining walls of the old Dream were incorporated into the new structure, so you could say they are at least partly the same building.
Address is wrong. This is at 315, and has suffered a bad remodel. It is used as apartments. Was built sometime after 1913. The Kansas historical society says 1890, but that’s very dubious, and based on two smaller buildings previously on this site.
The address should be 612. This can’t have opened prior to 1911, since the Dec. 1910 map shows a racket store here. The building was extended to the rear in the conversion. The building dated to sometime before 1883.
This theater may have closed briefly, but reopened as the Madrid, and operated until 1954.
We need to change the photo to one of the building.
The building seems to have been constructed before 1883. The 1901 map shows a saloon here, but the Dec. 1910 Sanborn shows ‘Moving Pictures’ here. The current dumpy facade likely dates from just after the closure of this theater in 1954 (as the Madrid). It’s now a podiatrist’s office.
This is a continuation of the Crystal, and this listing should be deleted after the information has been added there.
The description needs to be updated. It describes the cheesy fake entrance stuck on the back of the building as if it were the front. It’s been removed as well.
The stupid trashy ‘mall’ has been ripped out, and the theater is looking a lot better. The front seems to be the front again, so to speak.
I’ve added a listing for the Unique. The zip code should be 66048. Everything on that block uses it, and 66043 belongs to Lansing.
The Unique name never belonged to this building. It belonged to an airdome on this site through at least the Fall of 1905. The Peoples name definitely also belonged to the airdome, but possibly also to the permanent building.
It looks like this theater was a remodel of a livery stable built between 1889 and 1897.
The address is wrong. Should be 524-526. The building was looking very seedy in the 2000s, but has been renovated, probably closer to its historic appearance. It is used as an event space.
I’ve added a 1913 Sanborn image. This needs to be listed as demolished. The site is a parking lot.
Could be. I suppose you could have stuck a roof over that outside space.
I’m going to correct myself a bit. It appears this section of the building existed prior to 1884. It seems to have been remodeled at some point to match the Miller Building, but there are some differences, mainly in the windows and structural ironwork.
The ugly remodels have been removed, although this portion of the building no longer has an entry. It is used as offices.
The building seems to have been originally called the Miller Building, and was constructed sometime between 1897 and 1901. This was the eastern end of the structure. The 1912 map shows this space as vacant, so the theater may have opened earlier, unless of course a business or two came and went prior to 1926.