I found an old postcard (1970-ish) showing the Sigma, which seems to be called the Sigma I. Definitely an older theater. I can’t say whether it’s the original or a 1940s replacement. Very bland flat beige plaster facade and a drab little marquee.
Joe, I just added a theater at 6th and Broadway. That can’t have become the Apollo, which is much closer to State, nearly 2 blocks away. The problem with the Lyric/Iris ID is that it was closed by 1917, and there’s nothing else on either the 1911 or 1917 maps that’s anywhere close to that intersection.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 11, 2024 at 2:20 pm
Note that this street was called Broadway until sometime around 1920.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jul 11, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Note that while this theater was operating, this was Commercial St, but became M by 1923.
The 1917 map shows a theater two doors east of the Elks building on the corner. It was built sometime after 1911. The address is 229-231. My guess is the big auto-CAD lump replaced either that building or a 1940s replacement.
The KS Historical Society claims this was called the Electrodome, and that the building (but perhaps not the theater?) was owned by G.A. Chapin. That may be one of the other two early theaters in town, one of which was next door.
The first owners were Sam and Katherine Blair, who came to town from Mena, AR in 1920 to run a different theater, which they then replaced with this much larger one. They leased it to Commonwealth in 1941, and sold it in 1966.
The building does not appear on the 1911 map, and was likely built to be a theater. Sometime between 1911 and 1923 the street was renamed from Broadway to 19th.
I am dubious of the later history. The 1933 map shows this divided into two stores. It had likely closed permanently by then. I added a view from the 1923 map.
The address must be something like 305. The house across the street is 304. This was the Ruritan Club, but is now derelict junk storage. It may be used by the farm supply operation next door.
From an old picture, this was almost certainly open before 1920. It originally had an open entry area with a ticket booth. This was then enclosed with glass block in a later remodel. I don’t know why they covered the glass block in that trashy siding. It opened as the Morris, and was later known as the Blair before becoming the Ute. It seems to have been built by J.P. Fair, who ran the Mankato National Bank. Original capacity was 324, and the first managers were N.B and V.D. Morris. Mont J. Green was the architect.
History is wrong. This building isn’t on the 1911 map. Address should be 203. I can’t see an address anywhere in my pictures or on streetview, but the KS Historical Society has the bank on the corner at 201. Oddly, they don’t even have a FB page, but a group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53520821624/
Demolished between 2008 and 2016. The address is either wrong or was changed. Abandoned jewelry store at 110, 112 was a dumpy little one story thing, theater was a seedy gray painted wreck at 114.
There was never a Family Dollar here. The theater entrance has been filled in, and it’s part of the hotel building, which is now low-income apartments. Probably an office of some sort in this location.
SethG
commented about
Theatreon
Jun 10, 2024 at 10:00 pm
You could definitely have fit 700 people in here, although I don’t know how anyone would have seen the screen with the building only being 15 feet tall. There’s a 1927(?) map, but it’s not online.
Small correction to the history. Based on my photos from 2010, this building was remodeled around 1920 as a J.C. Penney. It was vacant when I saw it, and became the eastern addition to the bank. 107-109 became the drive through portion. This happened sometime before 2014. I can’t figure out exactly when.
The address is wrong, and has the directions of the streets confounded. The correct address is likely 321 W 2nd. The building appears to be one of those semi-derelict structures that rural folks use to store junk. It has a horrible sheet metal facade. Looks like it was constructed out of concrete ‘brick’.
Website is: https://www.senecatwintheatre-ks.com/
I was in town twice, and it was nasty weather both times. Never got a good picture of this one.
I found an old postcard (1970-ish) showing the Sigma, which seems to be called the Sigma I. Definitely an older theater. I can’t say whether it’s the original or a 1940s replacement. Very bland flat beige plaster facade and a drab little marquee.
Joe, I just added a theater at 6th and Broadway. That can’t have become the Apollo, which is much closer to State, nearly 2 blocks away. The problem with the Lyric/Iris ID is that it was closed by 1917, and there’s nothing else on either the 1911 or 1917 maps that’s anywhere close to that intersection.
Note that this street was called Broadway until sometime around 1920.
Note that while this theater was operating, this was Commercial St, but became M by 1923.
The 1917 map shows a theater two doors east of the Elks building on the corner. It was built sometime after 1911. The address is 229-231. My guess is the big auto-CAD lump replaced either that building or a 1940s replacement.
The KS Historical Society claims this was called the Electrodome, and that the building (but perhaps not the theater?) was owned by G.A. Chapin. That may be one of the other two early theaters in town, one of which was next door.
The first owners were Sam and Katherine Blair, who came to town from Mena, AR in 1920 to run a different theater, which they then replaced with this much larger one. They leased it to Commonwealth in 1941, and sold it in 1966.
The building does not appear on the 1911 map, and was likely built to be a theater. Sometime between 1911 and 1923 the street was renamed from Broadway to 19th.
I am dubious of the later history. The 1933 map shows this divided into two stores. It had likely closed permanently by then. I added a view from the 1923 map.
This has not been demolished. It’s a mini-storage place.
The address must be something like 305. The house across the street is 304. This was the Ruritan Club, but is now derelict junk storage. It may be used by the farm supply operation next door.
From an old picture, this was almost certainly open before 1920. It originally had an open entry area with a ticket booth. This was then enclosed with glass block in a later remodel. I don’t know why they covered the glass block in that trashy siding. It opened as the Morris, and was later known as the Blair before becoming the Ute. It seems to have been built by J.P. Fair, who ran the Mankato National Bank. Original capacity was 324, and the first managers were N.B and V.D. Morris. Mont J. Green was the architect.
History is wrong. This building isn’t on the 1911 map. Address should be 203. I can’t see an address anywhere in my pictures or on streetview, but the KS Historical Society has the bank on the corner at 201. Oddly, they don’t even have a FB page, but a group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/53520821624/
Address is wrong? I think this is 115. Definitely not demolished. Seems to be used as offices.
Demolished between 2008 and 2016. The address is either wrong or was changed. Abandoned jewelry store at 110, 112 was a dumpy little one story thing, theater was a seedy gray painted wreck at 114.
Thanks for finding the name!
This is not demolished. The only thing gone is that revolting street level brick garbage. The building has been restored, and is a restaurant.
There was never a Family Dollar here. The theater entrance has been filled in, and it’s part of the hotel building, which is now low-income apartments. Probably an office of some sort in this location.
You could definitely have fit 700 people in here, although I don’t know how anyone would have seen the screen with the building only being 15 feet tall. There’s a 1927(?) map, but it’s not online.
That capacity makes more sense, and the drawing matches the building on the map.
I’ve added the 1917 view. In 1911, the section past the faint line through the building was vacant storage, so the theater was significantly expanded.
Small correction to the history. Based on my photos from 2010, this building was remodeled around 1920 as a J.C. Penney. It was vacant when I saw it, and became the eastern addition to the bank. 107-109 became the drive through portion. This happened sometime before 2014. I can’t figure out exactly when.
This should be listed as demolished. There’s a very ugly clinic there now.
The address is wrong, and has the directions of the streets confounded. The correct address is likely 321 W 2nd. The building appears to be one of those semi-derelict structures that rural folks use to store junk. It has a horrible sheet metal facade. Looks like it was constructed out of concrete ‘brick’.