Glenwood Theatre
9100 Metcalf Avenue,
Overland Park,
KS
66212
9100 Metcalf Avenue,
Overland Park,
KS
66212
9 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Dickinson Theatres
Architects: Mel C. Glatz, Richard Wells
Previous Names: Glenwood 4 Theatres
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- May 24, 2012 — Celebrating the Original STAR WARS on its 35th Anniversary
- May 25, 2007 — Happy 30th, Star Wars!
After five years of planning and the expenditure of more than $500,000, the Glenwood Theatre in Overland Park, KS opened to the public on November 23, 1966.
Hailed as ‘Kansas City’s Luxury Theater’, it maintained that stature for over 33 years.
Outside, a large fountain stood amongst beautifully landscaped grounds. Inside, the Grand Promenade exhibited statues, a fireplace, and most noticeably, a 15 feet wide by 15 feet tall imported Italian crystal chandelier.
Hostesses escorted movie patrons into the 816 seat auditorium, which boasted high back red rocker lounge chairs and a fully carpeted floor.
As a movie would begin, 40 foot tall curtains would slowly retract to reveal a 70 feet wide by 35 feet tall curved screen. The Glenwood Theatre was capable of showing 16mm, 35mm, and 70mm film formats.
As the movie exhibition industry became more competitive, a second smaller screen was added to the side of the main auditorium.
The Glenwood Theatre quickly became the most popular theatres in the Kansas City area, setting the world record for ‘Star Wars’ after making $1 million the first year of its release.
In 1983, two more smaller screens were added, but the original auditorium continued to be the popular draw.
With the introduction of a nearby megaplex in the 1990’s, ticket sales at the Glenwood Theatre declined.
Unable to compete, the theater closed in May 2000.
Sadly, amid much protest, the Glenwood Theatre was razed in November 2000 and was replaced by a strip mall, signaling the end of a magical cinematic era.
Contributed by
Keith LeBrun
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Recent comments (view all 58 comments)
Patton had an exclusive run at the Empire Theater and it was probably the last 70 mm film there with the curved very large Cinerama screen.
Here are fresh links to the March 20, 1967, Boxoffice article about the Glenwood Theatre:
Page one
page two
Went to Planet of the Apes as an 8 year old in 1968. It was the first time I was in a true theater and I remember being impressed. Previously my family only took us kids to drive-ins.
February 5th, 1969 grand opening ad for the Glenwood II in photo section
Two page ad at https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01110225224715029151525647325
and https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01110225224715029151525647348
Also in photo section. but unreadable there.
Here is the link to a new “Hello, Dolly!” 50th anniversary retro article featuring a historian Q&A and roadshow chronology (which includes mention of its North American record-length run at the Glenwood).
Facebook album with 51 photos of the Glenwood Theatre’s final days in 2000, and 10 November 2000 demolition photos in the 2nd album. Credit Brad Moore.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.163294887092839&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.163298607092467&type=3
3 photos added courtesy James Alan George. From: www.billyjackrights.com/ Billy Jack Day, Kansas City (part 3) written on 12/07/10 by frank laughlin in history, pictures
Leading up to the premiere in each city, was the same Billy Jack circus: karate demonstrations, live bands, and the girls holding the cards that spelled B-I-L-L-Y-J-A-C-K. Below the circus is staged out front of the Glenwood Theaters outside Kansas City, Kansas. The picture on the bottom shows some of the incredible turnout. The end result of the advertising and promotional blitz were crowds, massive, never ending crowds. Remember, Billy Jack had already been the second-highest grossing film of 1971 behind Fiddler on the Roof, bringing in an earth-shattering $32,500,000. This was 1972-1973, about 12 months later. And Billy Jack is on its way to earning an additional $60,000,000, which will make it the highest grossing film in history by the end of 1973 with a grand total of $92,500,000. Beating out monster hits like The Godfather ($86M), The Exorcist($89M), and The Sting ($78M).
There are several entries–notably by “Coate” and “JoelWeide”–on the 1983 theft of a print of STAR WARS: EPISODE VI-RETURN OF THE JEDI from the Glenwood during its initial engagement. The resulting story is rather involved but based on the Kansas City Times reportage of the case’s first day of presentation in court–Thursday, September 15, 1983–and surrounding Glenwood ad listings, this is what happened…
The Glenwood had been showing JEDI on one screen (there is no indication in the Glenwood’s ads this was a 70mm print, only that its showings did not allow use of free passes) and TWILIGHT ZONE–THE MOVIE on the other screen.
An 18-year old Kansas University freshman, Larry DeWayne Riddick (there is no mention in the story that Riddick was or had been a Glenwood or Dickinson Theatres employee), waited in the Glenwood’s parking lot in his van after closing on the night of Tuesday, July 5, 1983 and upon seeing the theater’s projectionist, walked to him and threatened him with an unloaded .22 caliber pistol. The two waited in the projectionist’s car until all other staff had left, entered the theater, and after making three full trips, Riddick locked the projectionist in his own booth and drove a complete 7-reel edition of JEDI to his unaware parent’s local home, hiding it in the basement. (70mm prints are notoriously large, bulky & heavy especially in their steel lock-clip transport canisters so even one reel would be impossible to move or hide easily, much less seven).
After several days Riddick contacted a local TV & video store to offer a complete film version of JEDI for sale. The management instead contacted the FBI. On Thursday July 22 Riddick was called by an interested buyer to meet at a local hotel. The buyer was a couple who offered $10,000 for the film print, and that same evening Riddick arrived with the film by taxi to the hotel. After examining and confirming Reel 1 was legitimate, the couple revealed themselves as FBI agents and arrested Riddick.
Riddick later pled guilty with possible maximum sentencing of a $10,000 fine and ten years imprisonment. [“‘Jedi’ Thief Tells Judge Robbery Began as Stunt”, KCT, Friday, September 16, 1983, pp. B-2] The Glenwood did soon gain access to a 70mm JEDI print for its showings but without anything exhibited on its other screen.
The Glenwood did indeed have a 70mm print of Return of the Jedi for its entire 21 week run (May 25-October 20, 1983). My friends and I were there opening day at the 11 am showing. Great picture, incredible sound system for 1983. Four theaters played the film in KC at opening, the MidAmerica Blue Ridge East, Commonwealth Bannister Mall, Dickinson Glenwood and AMC Metro North. Blue Ridge, Bannister and Glenwood were all 70mm. Only AMC played it in 35mm on two screens. The large coop ads always advertised the 70mm and even Dickinson display ads prominently listed it as 70mm. In fact they added a 70mm print of Brainstorm in another theater on Sept 30, and even on the last day Oct. 20, the Dickinson display ad said Both Movies in 70mm! The next day, the Jedi print was replaced with a 70mm print of The Right Stuff. I don’t remember hearing anything about the print being stolen, but it is certainly possible. The Glenwood was (in my opinion) the best venue for 70mm in the Kc metro (Overland Park). It was one of a kind. The AMC and B&B mega plexes that now dominate the market are just not as impressive, but tastes change for better or worse.