Royal Theatre
109-111 N. Main Street,
Hoisington,
KS
67544
109-111 N. Main Street,
Hoisington,
KS
67544
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Commonwealth Amusement Corp.
Firms: W.E. Hulse & Co.
Nearby Theaters
The Royal Theatre was opened in 1916. By 1941 it was operated by Commonwealth Amusements Corp. They were still operating the Royal Theatre in early-February 1960 when it was closed.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
The Royal Theatre was mentioned in the January 26, 1924, issue of The Reel Journal, which said that it was the only theater still operating in Hoisington following the closure of the Crystal Theatre, which was being dismantled for other uses.
It’s possible that the Royal was the proposed $40,000 theater mentioned in the June 1, 1916, issue of American Stone Trade: “Hoisington, Kan.—W. E. Hulse & Co., architects, Hutchinson Kan., preparing plans for theater building; $40,000: brick and stone.”
I worked at this theatre from 1956-1958 as a projectionist. It was still operational when I left. Commonwealth Amusement Corp. closed it some time later. It was totally destroyed by fire in the 1970’s. At the time I worked there it was open during the school year and closed during the summer when the Cheyenne Drive-In was open.
The Strand is one of about 200 locations mentioned in an ad for Reproduco Pipe Organs.
This sounds like the end. From the Feb. 8, 1960 issue of BoxOffice: “The Royal Theatre, Commonwealth house in Hoisington, has been closed because of a lack of patronage. Elden Harwood, area coordinator for Commonwealth Theatres, said despite the national trend upward in movie attendance, patronage at the Royal has not been sufficient to keep it open. Commonwealth will continue to operate the drive-in south of town and will reopen it for the season in the early spring.”
If the address is correct, the history cannot be. There is nothing at this location on the 1920 map. There are 1928 and 1943 maps, but they are not available online. I assume the address is correct, as the building to the north of the grassy area where 116 would have been has a scar on the side where something used to be.