Comments from Keith Wondra

Showing 26 - 50 of 68 comments

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Mall Cinema on Jun 10, 2012 at 10:28 pm

3999 E. Harry is no where near 21st and Amidon. Please update the map to show the correct location.

The building is still there and has been converted into individual store fronts.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Vogue Art Theater on May 23, 2012 at 5:11 pm

It is now Fat Tony’s Grill and Sports Bar.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Twilight Theatre on May 5, 2012 at 9:54 pm

The Twilight Theatre is being rebuilt. Image of the construction from the 5th anniversary of the Greensburg tornado: http://www.flickr.com/photos/historian77/7146937779/

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Nomar Theatre on Apr 21, 2012 at 1:04 am

Kewpie, They are trying to get the money raised to restore this theater. I am really hoping I can see both the Nomar and the Orpheum restored. Having both of them restored will increase Wichita’s quality of life.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Kansas Theatre on Apr 21, 2012 at 12:53 am

Kewpie, The Kansas Theater was at 221 E. Douglas.

Mike, The Pawnee 4 Cinemas was in the Pawnee Plaza Shopping Center on the SE corner of Pawnee and Broadway. The Pawnee 4 Cinemas closed in 2000. Wal-Mart built a store in the mall in 1987. In 2004 the mall was torn down to make way for a Wal-Mart Supercenter

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on Apr 21, 2012 at 12:39 am

Mike, The Voque Art Theater was originally the Marple Theater at 417 E. Douglas.

The Westway Cinema was at 2515 S. Seneca in the Westway Shopping Center.

Are you sure you don’t mean the Victory Theater. I can not find any information on a Victory Drive-In in Wichita.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Jayhawk State Theatre of Kansas on Apr 20, 2012 at 9:28 pm

New link: http://jayhawktheatre.com/

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Tower Theatre on Apr 6, 2012 at 10:30 am

The Tower Theate is gone. Now in its location is a Burger King.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on Sep 23, 2011 at 2:28 pm

The Orpheum Theatre originally seated 1,676. 952 seats were on the main floor, 666 were up in the balcony and 58 seats were in boxes on the main floor. The boxes were removed in about the late 1950s.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Vogue Theatre on Sep 3, 2011 at 2:43 pm

The seats that are in the mezzanine section of Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre came from Salina’s Vogue Theatre.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Princess Theatre on Jul 21, 2011 at 4:22 pm

The Princess Theater closed in 1926 and was demolished in 1927 to make room for the new Innes Department Store (now the Joan Finney State Office Building).

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Louis C. Murdock Theatre on Jul 21, 2011 at 1:32 pm

The theater is called the Louise C. Murdock Theater This link has more information on the history of the Twentieth Century Club especially the history of the Murdock Theater: http://www.kshs.org/resource/national_register/nominationsNRDB/Sedgwick_20CenturyClubSR.pdf

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Kansas Theatre on Jul 21, 2011 at 12:42 pm

Seymour,
I have to see if anything of the theater remains. Since it was remodeled so much I doubt it but I will check.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 27, 2011 at 9:04 pm

After doing more research the architect for the Orpheum was John Eberson. Harry Weaver was the architect who supervised the construction in Wichita.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on Dec 20, 2010 at 11:59 am

The book on the Orpheum Theatre is now available through Amazon.
Here is the link:
View link

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on Oct 20, 2010 at 11:31 pm

Here is a link to images of and from the projection booth in the Orpheum:
View link
Enjoy.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 12, 2010 at 11:17 pm

Actually the architecture firm of Eberson & Weaver designed the Orpheum Theatre. Harry Weaver came to Wichita to supervise the construction of the Orpheum.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 10:24 pm

Chuck this link might help:
View link

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 10:22 pm

I don’t know Chuck I will get back to you on that. I know when it opened the Orpheum Office Building was home to doctors, dentists, and on the ground floor a Tilford Drug Store.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 12:04 am

For anyone who is interested I am writing a book on the history of the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita Kansas. I will post more information when it gets closer to the release date. I just thought I would let everyone know on here.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Orpheum Theatre on May 4, 2010 at 12:03 am

Here are some aerial shots of the Orpheum Theatre that I took from atop a Wichita Fire Department ladder fire engine during the 2010 Orpheum Theatre Car Show:
View link
View link

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Nomar Theatre on Jun 3, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Here are some pictures I took inside the Nomar:
View link

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Nomar Theatre on May 18, 2009 at 11:32 pm

Just saw on the news tonight that they several local citizens are planning on restoring the Nomar. They are trying to open it in a year.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Vogue Art Theater on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:26 pm

E. M. Dodd was not the builder of the Marple since he died in 1899 according to Emma Dodd’s obituary in the 1928 Wichita Beacon and the Marple was built in 1908.

Keith Wondra
Keith Wondra commented about Vogue Art Theater on Mar 10, 2009 at 4:23 pm

According to the Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Beacon;
Emma Dodd was the wife of E. M. Dodd a contractor. They came to Wichita in 1884. She owned considerable real estate including downtown business property.