Became the Fiesta December 28, 1941 with “Honky Tonk” and “ Hold Back The Dawn” on a twin bill. The Fiesta ended on January 6, 1953, with a triple feature of “Dodge City”, “Beast with Five Fingers” and “Captive Girl.”
This was known to many locals as the Circle Theatre housed in the Circle Theatre Building - the name it had for the majority of its operating years. (When it closed, an article referred to it as the former Circle Theatre.) It did, however, open as the Emerald and close as the Pic.
The Ritz Theatre closed at the end of lease on December 1, 1960 with a triple feature of Kirk Douglas in “Indian Fighter,” “When Comedy Was King,” and Van Johnson in “Enemy General.”
The Mary Lue fulfilled a 20-year lease under two different operators leaving December 9, 1951. But new operators reopened the venue the following weekend on December 15, 1951 as the Comet Theatre with Judy Canova in “Joan of the Ozarks” and Rex Allen in “Redwood Forest Trial.” By May of 1952, it was apparent that television was taking a toll on neighborhood theaters and the Comet disappeared from view.
But in Comet-like fashion, the theatre did reappear after its longer than anticipated vanishing act of 1952. When it re-emerged it now had widescreen projection to accommodate CinemaScope presentations. But it then vanished permanently with a double feature of Joel McCrae in “Wichita” and Tyrone Power in “Untamed” on March 11, 1956. The building then next served as a union meeting hall, a church, and, finally, the Crystal Palace Bar. On November 16, 1984, the tavern building burned down and what little remained was razed just days later.
A September 1966 beautification has the giant Oak Park sign removed from the former theater turned church in a project known as “Scrap Old Signs” and hauled off for free.
The Benton Theater launched September 11, 1913 with what it called “the highest conception in motion pictures” and supported by Professor Pearson’s Orchestra and the Ladies' Apollo Quartet. W.A. Andlauer of the Bonaventure launched the venue which had 917 seats including 60 box seats at opening.
Fox Midwest took on the venue and would convert it to Western Electric sound in 1929.
The circuit closed the Benton on June 10, 1956 following showings of Glenn Ford in “Jubal” in CinemaScope and Barabara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in “There’s Always Tomorrow.” The University of Kansas City studio theatre received the Benton’s seating in February of 1957 ahead of its launch.
The Mann Hopkins Cinema 6 closed on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured curbside concession sales before announcing its permanent closure on November 19, 2020.
The Woodlin Theatre opened in February of 1912. On June 1, 1912, it got new operators and a new name, the Apollo Theatre. The theatre equipped for sound to stay relevant. Fox Midwest would close the Apollo July 30, 1958 at the end of its lease with “Around the World in 80 Days.”
The Regent Theatre opened as a premiere motion picture house with a Kimball pipe organ, live orchestra and launching March 26th, 1916 with Fannie Ward in “For the Defense.” The Regent would convert to sound to stay current.
But with the impact of television and competition from new theaters, the Regent devolved into second-run double features followed by its final period as a faded, deep discount sub-run grindhouse showing three shows continuously from late morning until after midnight. No showtimes were posted or necessary in the advertising. The Regent closed on May 12, 1964 with Glenn Ford in “Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” Inger Stevens in “The World, Flesh & Devil,” and Glenn Ford in “The Sheepman.”
The theatre was redesigned for Pener’s, a men’s clothing store, by architects Bloomgarten & Frohwerk in 1965. At the end of its 20-year lease, the store moved and the former theatre building was demolished reportedly to make way for the AT&T Pavillion project as parking garage but appears to have been used for the 1201 Walnut Building skyscraper built by HNTB Architects in 1991.
The Capri Theatre closed in June of 1964 for a conversion to Cinerama and re-emerged with “Circus World” on July 1, 1964. The Capri converted back to regular widescreen presentation and ended its movie run when AMC Theatres closed the venue on August 8, 1971 with “Ryan’s Daughter.”
Orlando P. Rose opened a “continuous show” movie theater with a projector in 1907. This occurred not long after his company made news with a 700 pound coin deposit in 1907. That was likely what triggered his decision to move from nickelodeon presentation to a 250-seat theater at this address. It was advertised as the Lyric beginning in 1911 expanding to 350 seats.
As new theaters challenged the Lyric, Rose and his son sold the operation in 1920 to get into neighborhood theaters including the Warwick and Apollo. The Lyric soldiered on and at least three times was fined for indecent attractions.
On March 6, 1933, a midnight show led to a police raid in which police shook down operator Joe P. Deo and all of the attendees. Each of the 34 attendees who didn’t flee was fined $5 on the spot and each performer was ordered to pay $100 to avoid a trip to jail. None of the performers paid and were all placed in jail denying the charges along with the patrons who couldn’t raise the $5. Deo was fined $250. This was likely the end of the venue’s run.
Standard Amusement and Dominick Donninci opened the Palace Theatre on February 13, 1913 with Rex Beach’s “The Vengeance of Durand.” The theatre was built in an existing retail structure. After a ten-year lease expired, Donninci signed on for another 30-year lease. The neighbor was a restaurant and a Hotel called the Palace Hotel and then the Waverly Hote.
Louis A. Donninci took over the theatre in 1939 running it to the end of lease on July 11, 1954. Ralph Joseph Heft took on the theatre on a new lease running the venue only until 1955 at which time it closed permanently. The building was set to be torn down in 1957 but stayed around perhaps too long with the city condemning it in 1964 as part of its urban renewal plan.
AMC Theatres closed the Roxy Theatre on January 9, 1971 with “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.” An urban re-development plan called 12th and Main (called City Center Square at opening) was announced in 1972 in which AMC closed the former Paramount turned Towne 4 on February 6th. That was followed by auctions of both the Towne and Roxy.
In 1970, AMC Theatre and architects Lund-Balderson won a Quigley Award for Theatre Design in the conversion of the Paramount Theatre into the Towne 4. But the theatre failed to attract moviegoers to downtown ending its run after just three years on February 6, 1972. An urban re-development plan was announced followed by auctions of the AMC Towne 4 and the Roxy Theatre. Both theatres were then razed.
Fox Midwest swapped its Missouri Theatre for the Orpheum in 1948. The Orpheum’s closed after the November 2, 1955 showing of Clark Gable in “The Tall Men.” It had closed the venerable Esquire in January of 1955.
In 1956, there was hope for one of the old theaters. Fox then had to select one of its theaters for Todd-AO and went with the Tower Theatre. It moved its next booking to the Esquire - reopening that theatre in September of 1956. And the Orpheum’s fate was sealed when Fox removed seating from the Orpheum to take to the Tower. The circuit sold the theatre the next month to a hotel firm. It was bulldozed beginning in November of 1961 and into 1962 to make way for a motel. Many hidden gems were found while razing the nearly 50-year old venue including old posters.
September 19, 1927 shot celebrating the widening of the street finally allowing the city to use its fancy double-decker busses it had purchased but could not use. The first trip of the Linwood Line began at the Isis Theatre. The theater lasted another 43 years but the double decker busses were a failure.
After being closed for a fortnight, the Fox Tower re-emerged with a curved screen and Todd-AO projection on October 17, 1956. First up on the road show approach was reserved seating for “Oklahoma!” in downtown Kansas City. It turned out that the Tower need more than the miracle of Todd-AO to stave off closure within two years In July of 1958 and bulldozing which would occur two years later.
Fox Midwest closed the Tower for a fortnight on October 2, 1956 to install the Todd-AO process and adding seats from the Orpheum. It the-emerged with a reserved seating showing of “Oklahoma” on October 17, 1956 followed by “Around the World in 80 Days.” But the miracle of Todd-AO wasn’t enough and the process moved to the Capri. The faded Tower then closed quietly on July 8, 1958 with a double feature of Alan Ladd in “Proud Rebel” and Charles Bronson in “Showdown at Boot Hill.”
The Pantages turned Tower and New 12th Street turned Esquire came in to downtown Kansas City together both built in 1920 and they would both exit together 40 years later in 1960. Cleveland Wrecking Company razed both buildings in the summer of 1960 after salvage sales at both venues.
The Lake Park Drive-In Theatre launched June 6, 1953 with “Horizons West” and “No Room for the Groom” along with a cartoon. It was marketed additionally with the name of the L.P. Drive-In in the 1950s. The Lake Park closed on September 7, 1981 with “The Prowler” and “The Evil” on Screen One and “Student Bodies” and “Eye for an Eye” On Screen Two.
The Isis made news on July 9, 1960 when African American patrons decided to test the Fox Midwest’s policy of the Isis to serve only White customers in an organized demonstration. With dollar bills in hand, the Isis refused to sell tickets or allow entry. The theatre closed an hour and half later - two hours early - refusing entry.
Became the Fiesta December 28, 1941 with “Honky Tonk” and “ Hold Back The Dawn” on a twin bill. The Fiesta ended on January 6, 1953, with a triple feature of “Dodge City”, “Beast with Five Fingers” and “Captive Girl.”
The Giles closed at end of lease in November 30, 1958 with Susan Hayward in “I’d Climb the Highest Mountain” and Martin and Lewis’ “Jumping Jacks.”
This was known to many locals as the Circle Theatre housed in the Circle Theatre Building - the name it had for the majority of its operating years. (When it closed, an article referred to it as the former Circle Theatre.) It did, however, open as the Emerald and close as the Pic.
The Ritz Theatre closed at the end of lease on December 1, 1960 with a triple feature of Kirk Douglas in “Indian Fighter,” “When Comedy Was King,” and Van Johnson in “Enemy General.”
The Mary Lue fulfilled a 20-year lease under two different operators leaving December 9, 1951. But new operators reopened the venue the following weekend on December 15, 1951 as the Comet Theatre with Judy Canova in “Joan of the Ozarks” and Rex Allen in “Redwood Forest Trial.” By May of 1952, it was apparent that television was taking a toll on neighborhood theaters and the Comet disappeared from view.
But in Comet-like fashion, the theatre did reappear after its longer than anticipated vanishing act of 1952. When it re-emerged it now had widescreen projection to accommodate CinemaScope presentations. But it then vanished permanently with a double feature of Joel McCrae in “Wichita” and Tyrone Power in “Untamed” on March 11, 1956. The building then next served as a union meeting hall, a church, and, finally, the Crystal Palace Bar. On November 16, 1984, the tavern building burned down and what little remained was razed just days later.
A September 1966 beautification has the giant Oak Park sign removed from the former theater turned church in a project known as “Scrap Old Signs” and hauled off for free.
The Oak Park ceased operations on May 17, 1959 with “Some Like it Hot” and “La Parisienne.” Just months later, it was operating as a house of worship
This four screen 1,300 venue closed on September 30, 2000. On October 11, 2000, the theater’s contents were then auctioned off.
The Benton Theater launched September 11, 1913 with what it called “the highest conception in motion pictures” and supported by Professor Pearson’s Orchestra and the Ladies' Apollo Quartet. W.A. Andlauer of the Bonaventure launched the venue which had 917 seats including 60 box seats at opening.
Fox Midwest took on the venue and would convert it to Western Electric sound in 1929. The circuit closed the Benton on June 10, 1956 following showings of Glenn Ford in “Jubal” in CinemaScope and Barabara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in “There’s Always Tomorrow.” The University of Kansas City studio theatre received the Benton’s seating in February of 1957 ahead of its launch.
The Mann Hopkins Cinema 6 closed on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured curbside concession sales before announcing its permanent closure on November 19, 2020.
The Woodlin Theatre opened in February of 1912. On June 1, 1912, it got new operators and a new name, the Apollo Theatre. The theatre equipped for sound to stay relevant. Fox Midwest would close the Apollo July 30, 1958 at the end of its lease with “Around the World in 80 Days.”
The AMC Embassy 2 departed on January 25, 1981 with Bo Derek in “A Change of Seasons” on Screen 1 and Angela Lansbury in “Mirror Crack’d” on Screen 2.
The Regent Theatre opened as a premiere motion picture house with a Kimball pipe organ, live orchestra and launching March 26th, 1916 with Fannie Ward in “For the Defense.” The Regent would convert to sound to stay current.
But with the impact of television and competition from new theaters, the Regent devolved into second-run double features followed by its final period as a faded, deep discount sub-run grindhouse showing three shows continuously from late morning until after midnight. No showtimes were posted or necessary in the advertising. The Regent closed on May 12, 1964 with Glenn Ford in “Courtship of Eddie’s Father,” Inger Stevens in “The World, Flesh & Devil,” and Glenn Ford in “The Sheepman.”
The theatre was redesigned for Pener’s, a men’s clothing store, by architects Bloomgarten & Frohwerk in 1965. At the end of its 20-year lease, the store moved and the former theatre building was demolished reportedly to make way for the AT&T Pavillion project as parking garage but appears to have been used for the 1201 Walnut Building skyscraper built by HNTB Architects in 1991.
The Capri Theatre closed in June of 1964 for a conversion to Cinerama and re-emerged with “Circus World” on July 1, 1964. The Capri converted back to regular widescreen presentation and ended its movie run when AMC Theatres closed the venue on August 8, 1971 with “Ryan’s Daughter.”
Orlando P. Rose opened a “continuous show” movie theater with a projector in 1907. This occurred not long after his company made news with a 700 pound coin deposit in 1907. That was likely what triggered his decision to move from nickelodeon presentation to a 250-seat theater at this address. It was advertised as the Lyric beginning in 1911 expanding to 350 seats.
As new theaters challenged the Lyric, Rose and his son sold the operation in 1920 to get into neighborhood theaters including the Warwick and Apollo. The Lyric soldiered on and at least three times was fined for indecent attractions.
On March 6, 1933, a midnight show led to a police raid in which police shook down operator Joe P. Deo and all of the attendees. Each of the 34 attendees who didn’t flee was fined $5 on the spot and each performer was ordered to pay $100 to avoid a trip to jail. None of the performers paid and were all placed in jail denying the charges along with the patrons who couldn’t raise the $5. Deo was fined $250. This was likely the end of the venue’s run.
Standard Amusement and Dominick Donninci opened the Palace Theatre on February 13, 1913 with Rex Beach’s “The Vengeance of Durand.” The theatre was built in an existing retail structure. After a ten-year lease expired, Donninci signed on for another 30-year lease. The neighbor was a restaurant and a Hotel called the Palace Hotel and then the Waverly Hote.
Louis A. Donninci took over the theatre in 1939 running it to the end of lease on July 11, 1954. Ralph Joseph Heft took on the theatre on a new lease running the venue only until 1955 at which time it closed permanently. The building was set to be torn down in 1957 but stayed around perhaps too long with the city condemning it in 1964 as part of its urban renewal plan.
AMC Theatres closed the Roxy Theatre on January 9, 1971 with “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.” An urban re-development plan called 12th and Main (called City Center Square at opening) was announced in 1972 in which AMC closed the former Paramount turned Towne 4 on February 6th. That was followed by auctions of both the Towne and Roxy.
In 1970, AMC Theatre and architects Lund-Balderson won a Quigley Award for Theatre Design in the conversion of the Paramount Theatre into the Towne 4. But the theatre failed to attract moviegoers to downtown ending its run after just three years on February 6, 1972. An urban re-development plan was announced followed by auctions of the AMC Towne 4 and the Roxy Theatre. Both theatres were then razed.
Fox Midwest swapped its Missouri Theatre for the Orpheum in 1948. The Orpheum’s closed after the November 2, 1955 showing of Clark Gable in “The Tall Men.” It had closed the venerable Esquire in January of 1955.
In 1956, there was hope for one of the old theaters. Fox then had to select one of its theaters for Todd-AO and went with the Tower Theatre. It moved its next booking to the Esquire - reopening that theatre in September of 1956. And the Orpheum’s fate was sealed when Fox removed seating from the Orpheum to take to the Tower. The circuit sold the theatre the next month to a hotel firm. It was bulldozed beginning in November of 1961 and into 1962 to make way for a motel. Many hidden gems were found while razing the nearly 50-year old venue including old posters.
September 19, 1927 shot celebrating the widening of the street finally allowing the city to use its fancy double-decker busses it had purchased but could not use. The first trip of the Linwood Line began at the Isis Theatre. The theater lasted another 43 years but the double decker busses were a failure.
Appears to have departed with a Steve McQueen triple feature with “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Nevada Smith,” and “The Blob.“
And very technically, it was never an adult film house in the way that phrase is commonly used.
After being closed for a fortnight, the Fox Tower re-emerged with a curved screen and Todd-AO projection on October 17, 1956. First up on the road show approach was reserved seating for “Oklahoma!” in downtown Kansas City. It turned out that the Tower need more than the miracle of Todd-AO to stave off closure within two years In July of 1958 and bulldozing which would occur two years later.
Fox Midwest closed the Tower for a fortnight on October 2, 1956 to install the Todd-AO process and adding seats from the Orpheum. It the-emerged with a reserved seating showing of “Oklahoma” on October 17, 1956 followed by “Around the World in 80 Days.” But the miracle of Todd-AO wasn’t enough and the process moved to the Capri. The faded Tower then closed quietly on July 8, 1958 with a double feature of Alan Ladd in “Proud Rebel” and Charles Bronson in “Showdown at Boot Hill.”
The Pantages turned Tower and New 12th Street turned Esquire came in to downtown Kansas City together both built in 1920 and they would both exit together 40 years later in 1960. Cleveland Wrecking Company razed both buildings in the summer of 1960 after salvage sales at both venues.
The Lake Park Drive-In Theatre launched June 6, 1953 with “Horizons West” and “No Room for the Groom” along with a cartoon. It was marketed additionally with the name of the L.P. Drive-In in the 1950s. The Lake Park closed on September 7, 1981 with “The Prowler” and “The Evil” on Screen One and “Student Bodies” and “Eye for an Eye” On Screen Two.
The Isis made news on July 9, 1960 when African American patrons decided to test the Fox Midwest’s policy of the Isis to serve only White customers in an organized demonstration. With dollar bills in hand, the Isis refused to sell tickets or allow entry. The theatre closed an hour and half later - two hours early - refusing entry.