Electric Theatre
133-135 W. 11th Street,
Hays,
KS
67601
133-135 W. 11th Street,
Hays,
KS
67601
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Additional Info
Previous Names: G.A.R. Hall
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The first dedicated movie venue in Hays operated in 1908 as the Airdome. But the home of the first hardtop theatre was opened by Jim Fredorovicz in the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic) Hall in 1911. Operating as the Electric Theatre, movies had been played there three days a week as a text in 1910 to great success. But under Fredotovicz it did not bother with multiple projectors or even sound of any kind. Projection was totally silent including the playing of “Birth of a Nation.” The venue operated three days a week.
When Millard Kirkman opened the Strand Theatre including multiple projectors and accompanying music and sound effects, the Electric Theatrfe was done and became the Knights of Columbus Hall. And that could have ended this entry even as the venue became the Civic Hall in 1921 followed by the St. Joseph’s Parish Hall in 1926.
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dallasmovietheaters
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
Some of the history here is confused. The G.A.R. Hall was on what was then 2nd St (Now 11th). It first appears on the 1899 map, having been constructed sometime after 1891. It was a large one story wooden building, with a stage and scenery at the rear. It appears up to the 1911 map, but the Jan. 1918 map shows a two story brick city hall building on the site with the address 133-135 W 2nd Ave (it seems to still be under construction). This does still contain a very small G.A.R. Hall on one corner, but it can’t have seated more than about 30 people. The Electric must have closed by late 1917.
If a later Star Theater opened here, that was an entirely separate operation, and involved either the demolition or remodeling of the city hall. The Electric for sure would have been located at 133-135 W 11th St, which is currently a dumpy modern bank building. Status should be ‘demolished’, and the functions removed. All reference to either the Star or Electric should be removed, and a separate entry created for the other theater. We can be sure the Electric was here, the Star is less certain.
I’ve added a Sanborn view of the G.A.R. Hall.
Going by the initial entry, it seemed like the cinema operation was known as the Electric, although the building was the G.A.R. Hall. Style should be removed as well.