Theatre
417 Main Street,
Boonville,
MO
65233
417 Main Street,
Boonville,
MO
65233
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The 1910 Sanborn shows a theatre operating in the southern ground floor storefront of the Knights of Pythias building. This was a three story brick structure, which was built between 1892 and 1900. On the 1900 map, the space is vacant, and by 1917 an auto dealer occupied the space. According to the NRHP listing, the current Pythian building was built in 1920, but occupies the same space as the prior structure. It’s possible that this was an extensive remodel with a new façade, since the roofline is quite a bit higher than the decorative tile.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
The 1914-1915 American Motion Picture Directory lists only two theaters at Boonville: the Stevens Opera House, and the Star Dome Theatre (which sounds like it might have been an outdoor house) but gives no addresses for either.
This wasn’t the Stephens. That’s the Thespian Hall.
I’ve added a photo. I’m convinced that the NRHP listing is wrong, and we should not list this as demolished. Note the old-fashioned brickwork in the alley (especially the ‘column’), and the fact that almost the entire top of the Farmers Trust ghost ad is missing. It’s clear that the roofline was lowered, and the façade updated.
The Knights Of Pythias actually operated as early as 1888 at a different location inside a lodge, but members from the Pythias purchased a vacant lot on Main Street in February 1889 with an estimate $2,500.