Civic Theater
217 W. Daugherty Street,
Webb City,
MO
64870
217 W. Daugherty Street,
Webb City,
MO
64870
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Additional Info
Architects: Larry P. Larsen
Functions: Housing
Previous Names: Blake Opera House, Blake Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened on September 15, 1900, the 1,200-seat Blake Opera House was destroyed by fire in 1931.
A new theatre was built on the site, which opened as the 550-seat Civic Theatre. The Civic Theater (not to be confused with the Civic Junior Theater, also on Main Street) was designed by Webb City architect Larry P. Larsen, who designed over 100 theatres around the U.S.A.
The Civic Theater was closed in December 1956. It briefly reopened in 1957. The front of the theatre was converted into an apartment, the auditorium has been demolished.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
From what I found this theatre goes back to the 1920’s when it was known as the Blake Opera House.
Also known as the Blake theatre. Address is 217 West Daugherty Street.
Boxoffice, March 30, 1957: “WEBB CITY, MO. – The Civic Theatre, closed since last December, was reopened under new management Friday (22). Bill Bradfield of Carthage is the new owner … The Civic had been refurbished before its opening.”
Howard Larsen, who would later build the Webb City Drive-In, owned the Civic for a while. I wonder whether he was any relation to architect Larry Larsen.
Howard was included in Neosho MO Daily News story on March 28, 1947 as having attended the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Assocation of independent owners. On Feb. 11, 1950, the Joplin Globe quoted Howard to say the scandalous Bergman film “Stromboli” would not be shown at the Civic.
Howard Larsen was the son of Larry Larsen who was a scenic backdrop painter from Denmark originally. Here is the article about Larry: https://drypigment.net/2022/03/02/sosman-landis-shaping-the-landscape-of-american-theatre-employee-no-79-larry-larsen/