Iris Theatre
304 N. Main Street,
Hutchinson,
KS
67501
304 N. Main Street,
Hutchinson,
KS
67501
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Midwest Amusement Corp.
Functions: Retail
Previous Names: Magic Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Magic Theatre opened on May 17, 1907. It was renamed Iris Theatre on February 19, 1912. According to the Hutchinson News, the seats on the slanted floor faced the front entrance. This strange configuration is shown on the Sanborn Maps, with the projection room in the middle of the theatre. In June of 1930 the Hutchinson News reported that Fox Midwest Amusement Corp. now controlled all of the local theatres. The other theatres were the Midland Theatre, Strand Theatre, Royal Theatre, and the Fox Theatre in the planning stages.
On February 22,1932, after being dark for at least a year, the Iris Theatre installed sound equipment and was opened by Ensign Burrton. Its policy was described a being a dime house, featuring 2nd run films and westerns. The State Theatre, owned by the Sproule brothers, opened three doors away in 1936 and the Iris Theatre, by then operated by the Sproules, continued on until May of 1943. A news story in January of 1945 referred to the theatre as the old Iris Theatre and that it was now being used as storage.
The old building has most recently been home to Sarah’s Catholic Bookstore.
Contributed by
rpierce
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Current picture of the former Iris in the Photo section.
Either the opening date is wrong, or this opened under another name. The theater is shown on the August 1909 Sanborn. The site is a vacant lot on the 1905 map.
Note that the statement about the projection room is wrong. Nothing is shown on the 1909 map, and the 1915 map (and all subsequent) shows a small external structure on the rear wall which must have been the projection booth.
In addition, there is some missing history. The 1922 map shows a store here, but the theater returns on the 1929 map.
Just to firm up the dates a bit, the Iris is listed in the 1926 Yearbook.
Opening ad as the Magic Theater on May 17, 1907 in photos.