It definitely could not have been the second. That intersection had been built out by 1914. 3 of the 4 buildings are still standing. I think I found the relocated one, I’ll add a listing. Thanks for the history.
That would explain why they are both listed at the same address. The Yearbooks often list both names as well the year the name changed. Do you have any explanation for the 1960s(?) theater front?
The garage did have an auto sales office and a plumber either side of the entrance on the 1914 map, so he might have been in one of those. It was definitely built after 1906, but you’re right, it would have become a theater in 10 years at the latest.
The formstone in the Rex photo makes me wonder it that wasn’t in the old Masonic temple on the corner, which was remodeled in 1947, and covered in formstone. That building was demolished sometime after 2016. I can’t match it exactly, but it seems to be the northern section of the western facade in the photo. I wish they had stood further away when they took the pictures! I do see that the address is given as 110 for the Arbo in the Yearbooks. That building, which is currently a law office, has clearly been remuddled a time or two, so it may have become the Rex. The real problem is that 110 is the shallowest building on the block. The current addresses match the addresses on the 1914 map, so….?
Thanks, this is so confusing starting with a very poor listing. So 50s is definitely correct that the Star was renamed in late 1955, which explains why the theater is called the Star in the listings, and the Fox in the circuit listings for 1956. Somebody must have goofed. This theater was listed around 720 seats in the ‘50s. It was definitely owned by Fox by 1951, I didn’t check further back. The current 250 seat capacity seems ridiculously low for such a large building. I bet the 1917 theater was a remodel of the garage.
If the location is correct, this must have been at 102 S Ash. That’s the SW corner, and is a vacant lot in 1906. This was gone by 1914, when all the corners are occupied.
This was not built in 1910. There was a large garage here on the 1914 map. It’s possible THAT was built in 1910, and may have been remodeled into the theater. It’s hard to tell under all the ugly siding covering the building. If it was open by 1926, it was likely the Star, with 800 seats. The website is either dead or has a certificate error, but https://www.foxplayhouse.org/ works.
I wonder if this wasn’t actually at 112. There’s a theater shown there on the 1914 Sanborn, and it likely would have been the Photoplay, based on the location given in the 1914-15 AMPD. Unfortunately, the 1926 map is not available online. 112 has been incorporated into the Thorpe building (it’s the southern storefront), but the old structure is clearly visible from the satellite view.
This was not where the Fox is. It was located on the E Side of the Square according to the 1914-15 American Motion Picture Directory (Probably 112 N Cedar). The 1914 map shows a garage where the Fox is. Given that the theater is slathered in trashy metal siding, it’s hard to say, but it’s possible that the Fox was a remodel of that building.
SethG
commented about
Theateron
May 31, 2025 at 11:29 am
I’ve added a map view. The theater was on the corner with Marmaton Ave, a now vanished street that ran roughly where the sidewalk on the NW side of the parade ground is today. The front of the building was about where the cloverleaf shaped planter is now.
Thanks, Joe. Here’s the comment I put on the Peoples page, and should have copied here:
In 1927, the Peoples and the Mainstreet were operated by the Harding Circuit (Capitol Enterprises). In 1928, both were operated by the Midland Theater and Realty Co. of Kansas City, although Universal owned 50% of both houses. By 1930, both were part of the massive Wesco Corporation (owned by Fox).
SethG
commented about
Theateron
May 29, 2025 at 3:38 pm
The KHRI entry: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=133-0870-00006
In 1927, the Peoples and the Mainstreet were operated by the Harding Circuit (Capitol Enterprises). In 1928, both were operated by the Midland Theater and Realty Co. of Kansas City, although Universal owned 50% of both houses. By 1930, both were part of the massive Wesco Corporation (owned by Fox).
I think I found the Grand, and I even have a picture of it. It does not appear on the 1924 map because it hadn’t been built yet. It was at 205 E Main, now an insurance office. In 1924 there was a one story wooden printing operation there.
Any idea whether the Williams Opera House showed movies? It was open in 1906, but is condemned on the 1911 map, and was remodeled into a Montgomery Ward.
I actually parked right across the street from this, but did not get a picture because it has a really weird remodel that must date to just after its closure. The top 4 feet or so are an older yellow brick building, the rest is a bizarre and clunky thing that looks like a bank. I assume, given the early name, that this building always belonged to the Eagles.
The Peoples was likely demolished. Downtown is in very sad shape.
Reminder that the changes made based on Trolleyguy’s comment need to be reverted. He was not saying that it had become a church, merely that the church runs the youth center.
About 1920, Sanborn maps switched to being maddeningly vague. Everything is just a ‘store’. Banks, garages, and a few other things are still identified. Theaters should have been noted, as they carry an obvious insurance risk.
Needs a history written up with the information Joe provided. The dates must be correct. The Jan. 1902 Sanborn shows a small wooden hotel on this corner.
The Peoples was open by 1914-15, when it is listed in the AMPD (although the address is listed as 228, which doesn’t seem to have existed, and would have been the Hetrick if it had). It replaced an airdome which is shown on the 1911 map. I’ve added a 1916 view.
The address was 220-224 E Main. The block is in pitiful shape, with only the 2 story building just to the left of the white (wooden?) building remaining. The site of the theater is a parking lot.
It definitely could not have been the second. That intersection had been built out by 1914. 3 of the 4 buildings are still standing. I think I found the relocated one, I’ll add a listing. Thanks for the history.
That would explain why they are both listed at the same address. The Yearbooks often list both names as well the year the name changed. Do you have any explanation for the 1960s(?) theater front?
The garage did have an auto sales office and a plumber either side of the entrance on the 1914 map, so he might have been in one of those. It was definitely built after 1906, but you’re right, it would have become a theater in 10 years at the latest.
Are you sure about the chronology? The Arbo is still listed in 1956.
The formstone in the Rex photo makes me wonder it that wasn’t in the old Masonic temple on the corner, which was remodeled in 1947, and covered in formstone. That building was demolished sometime after 2016. I can’t match it exactly, but it seems to be the northern section of the western facade in the photo. I wish they had stood further away when they took the pictures! I do see that the address is given as 110 for the Arbo in the Yearbooks. That building, which is currently a law office, has clearly been remuddled a time or two, so it may have become the Rex. The real problem is that 110 is the shallowest building on the block. The current addresses match the addresses on the 1914 map, so….?
Thanks, this is so confusing starting with a very poor listing. So 50s is definitely correct that the Star was renamed in late 1955, which explains why the theater is called the Star in the listings, and the Fox in the circuit listings for 1956. Somebody must have goofed. This theater was listed around 720 seats in the ‘50s. It was definitely owned by Fox by 1951, I didn’t check further back. The current 250 seat capacity seems ridiculously low for such a large building. I bet the 1917 theater was a remodel of the garage.
If the location is correct, this must have been at 102 S Ash. That’s the SW corner, and is a vacant lot in 1906. This was gone by 1914, when all the corners are occupied.
This was not built in 1910. There was a large garage here on the 1914 map. It’s possible THAT was built in 1910, and may have been remodeled into the theater. It’s hard to tell under all the ugly siding covering the building. If it was open by 1926, it was likely the Star, with 800 seats. The website is either dead or has a certificate error, but https://www.foxplayhouse.org/ works.
I wonder if this wasn’t actually at 112. There’s a theater shown there on the 1914 Sanborn, and it likely would have been the Photoplay, based on the location given in the 1914-15 AMPD. Unfortunately, the 1926 map is not available online. 112 has been incorporated into the Thorpe building (it’s the southern storefront), but the old structure is clearly visible from the satellite view.
This was not where the Fox is. It was located on the E Side of the Square according to the 1914-15 American Motion Picture Directory (Probably 112 N Cedar). The 1914 map shows a garage where the Fox is. Given that the theater is slathered in trashy metal siding, it’s hard to say, but it’s possible that the Fox was a remodel of that building.
I’ve added a map view. The theater was on the corner with Marmaton Ave, a now vanished street that ran roughly where the sidewalk on the NW side of the parade ground is today. The front of the building was about where the cloverleaf shaped planter is now.
KHRI link with some historic photos: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=011-1830-00067
The building dates to before 1884, and by 1906 it was a department store of sorts, along with the building to the south.
Here’s the KHRI page, which does have the wrong construction date: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=011-1830-00045
Again the obsession with corners. The first sentence should be deleted, this is halfway down the block.
Thanks, Joe. Here’s the comment I put on the Peoples page, and should have copied here:
In 1927, the Peoples and the Mainstreet were operated by the Harding Circuit (Capitol Enterprises). In 1928, both were operated by the Midland Theater and Realty Co. of Kansas City, although Universal owned 50% of both houses. By 1930, both were part of the massive Wesco Corporation (owned by Fox).
The KHRI entry: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=133-0870-00006
In 1927, the Peoples and the Mainstreet were operated by the Harding Circuit (Capitol Enterprises). In 1928, both were operated by the Midland Theater and Realty Co. of Kansas City, although Universal owned 50% of both houses. By 1930, both were part of the massive Wesco Corporation (owned by Fox).
I think I found the Grand, and I even have a picture of it. It does not appear on the 1924 map because it hadn’t been built yet. It was at 205 E Main, now an insurance office. In 1924 there was a one story wooden printing operation there.
Any idea whether the Williams Opera House showed movies? It was open in 1906, but is condemned on the 1911 map, and was remodeled into a Montgomery Ward.
I actually parked right across the street from this, but did not get a picture because it has a really weird remodel that must date to just after its closure. The top 4 feet or so are an older yellow brick building, the rest is a bizarre and clunky thing that looks like a bank. I assume, given the early name, that this building always belonged to the Eagles.
The Peoples was likely demolished. Downtown is in very sad shape.
Reminder that the changes made based on Trolleyguy’s comment need to be reverted. He was not saying that it had become a church, merely that the church runs the youth center.
About 1920, Sanborn maps switched to being maddeningly vague. Everything is just a ‘store’. Banks, garages, and a few other things are still identified. Theaters should have been noted, as they carry an obvious insurance risk.
Needs a history written up with the information Joe provided. The dates must be correct. The Jan. 1902 Sanborn shows a small wooden hotel on this corner.
Again, not at a corner, and the listing has the wrong closing date, since it was demolished in 2006.
The Peoples was open by 1914-15, when it is listed in the AMPD (although the address is listed as 228, which doesn’t seem to have existed, and would have been the Hetrick if it had). It replaced an airdome which is shown on the 1911 map. I’ve added a 1916 view.
The address was 220-224 E Main. The block is in pitiful shape, with only the 2 story building just to the left of the white (wooden?) building remaining. The site of the theater is a parking lot.