Malco Theatre
118 W. 3rd Street,
Owensboro,
KY
42303
118 W. 3rd Street,
Owensboro,
KY
42303
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Formal opening ad as the Seville Theatre on April 28, 1931 with Gloria Swanson in “What a Widow” in photos.
Demolition took place in October and November of 1968
The People’s Theatre opened on December 28, 1909 in a retrofit of a building constructed in 1840. The theatre was remodeled in 1915 and the name was changed to the Queen Theatre on May 27, 1915. It was closed in January 1918. It was used for sporadic events to 1930. Converted to sound it became the Saville on April 28, 1931.
It was purchased by Malco and had reopening as the New Malco Theatre on Aug. 25, 1949 with “I was a Male War Bride” in photos. The venue closed as the Malco Theatre on Jan. 14, 1968 with “Hurry Sundown” and “El Dorado.” It moved to its new location 11 days later. The building was demolished.
Not sure why there are multiple listings for this singular theater in this database. It is the same building and home to a livery stable, carriage display store, bowling alley, laundry, and four theaters in the People’s, Queen, Seville, and New Malco/Malco. The original wood trusses were part of each of the businesses with the exception of the New Malco/Malco which replaced the 109 year old wood trusses with metal ones.
The vintage photo uploaded by elmorovivo shows that the Seville was in the same building (or at least on the same site) as the Queen Theatre. The ornate building to the left of the theater can also be seen in the vintage photo on the Queen’s photo page.
This opened on April 28th, 1931. Grand opening ad in the photo section as well as below.
This article about Owensboro’s theaters from the Theatre Historical Society says that the Seville was on the southeast corner of 3rd and St. Ann Streets. It opened in 1931 and closed in 1955. The site is now occupied by a mirrored glass building that houses PNC Bank.