Augusta Historic Theatre
523 State Street,
Augusta,
KS
67010
523 State Street,
Augusta,
KS
67010
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Augusta Historic Theatre (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Larry P. Larsen
Functions: Movies
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Augusta Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
316.775.3661
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News About This Theater
- Jul 24, 2011 — A digital future for the Augusta
The Augusta Theatre opened on June 19, 1935 with seating provided for 683. This Art Deco style movie palace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It is very easy to find and more than worth the short drive from Wichita, Derby, Rose Hill, Andover, Leon, Towanda, Benton, or other parts of Kansas.
From Wichita just continue East on Highway 54 (Kellogg) for about 12 miles. Highway 54 turns into 7th Street in Augusta. At the third stoplight - State Street - take a right (south) and you’ll see the neon marquee of the Augusta Theatre - lit up and welcoming - just two blocks down.
You can’t miss it and you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to experience a movie in one of the very few preserved, operating movie palaces in the region.
Contributed by
Paul Salley
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Here is a small photo of the interior:
View link
The architectural firm Boller Brothers of St. Louis submitted plans to the owner/builder David A. Bisagno, but he preferred and accepted the designs submitted by architect Larry P. Larson of Webb City, Missouri.
From 2010 a photo of the Augusta Theatre HERE and HERE in Augusta.
Great pictures,sorta wish it was in Augusta,Ga!
Very nice looking theatre.
I’d love to know what this theatre looked like originally. Photos anyone?
There is a photo of the exterior on the theater’s website: http://augustahistorictheatre.com/the_theatre. Based on the information there, it was apparently later covered in glass, (possibly Vitrolite as was used on the lower portion of the façade) which was then removed when that ugly green metal cladding was installed. Other than that, it would appear that the theater, especially the interior, looks very much it did when it opened. It’s an Art Deco gem.
There is a set of thirty-seven photos here: View link
Link for a fund raising effort for the marquee.
https://projectwekan.com/projects-augusta-historic-theatre-neon-marquee?fbclid=IwAR0KP2uiG70sVoAUu9BjE52bse8JoEKgvw-JwIn4Zky_gVHodREJrzWoG6o
A beautiful small town theatre. There is no suspended balcony but there are several rows of raised or stadium style seating at the rear of the theatre. Four beautiful semi-flush neon chandeliers adorn the auditorium ceiling. Several huge theatre sconces highlight the beautiful murals on the interior walls of the auditorium. Originally, above the marquee there was a huge panel of various colored glass. Frequent breakage of the glass and costly replacement resulted in this being covered over when the front exterior was remodeled. The knowledgeable and friendly all volunteer staff (no paid staff) has kept the theatre doors open and these lovely art deco entry doors deserve to be seen. The Augusta has done some live performances but they were poorly attended. Hopefully, a successful venue of events will be formulated that will keep the Augusta flourishing.
The theater was damaged in a 1949 fire. I was told when I visited long ago that the fire caused a lot of the vitrolite to fall off. All I can say for sure is that the slipcover was up by 1990. The original commercial structure that was remodeled into the theater was built sometime between 1915 and 1917.