Fox Theatre Atchison
612 - 614 Commercial Street,
Atchison,
KS
66002
612 - 614 Commercial Street,
Atchison,
KS
66002
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Related Websites
Fox Theatre Atchison (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Fox Midwest Theatres
Architects: Samuel W. Bihr, Jr.
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Fox Royal Theatre, Royal Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
913.367.7469
Nearby Theaters
The Royal Theatre was built on the site of the Fox Royal Theatre which was demolished in 1947 (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures). The new Fox Royal Theatre was opened by Fox Midwest Theatres on January 27, 1949 with the world premiere of “The Sun Looks Up”. It was later twinned. At one point in its life, the theatre operated as a Saturday night country music opry but with only mild success. The music was said to be great but the audience was often too small to pay for the show’s cast. The owners kept the show going at their own expense. The theatre showed first and second run features.
The exterior is somewhat simple but elegant in brick and white stucco with subtle ornamentation and a few finials and arc’s at the top of the facade. The building seems representative of Spanish or Moorish architecture. There is a very simple awning style marquee a large decorative “R” tile on the stucco above the marquee. It was closed in 2014. It was converted into 3-screens and reopened as the Fox Theatre on March 29, 2019.
Contributed by
Clay Jarratt
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Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
The Royal is in sad shape and further ruined by the city making a mall out of downtown. A two block stretch, including the Royal, has a cement canopy over the sidewalk and required removal of the Royal’s marquee. The street has been replaced with trees and grass. I know of other cities that have tried this and it does not do a thing to attract people. It is summer right now in Atchison and there is virtually nobody on the 2 block stretch of mall. The stores on both sides of the street have rear entrances that are used more than the mall entrances. The Royal busted through the rear wall and is using an entrance there. [url=http://www.itemspecialty.com/movie/royal_theater.jpg]
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The entrance is now at the back of the theater because the city screwed up the downtown streets and everyone uses what was the alley to access stores. So now when you walk into the twined main floor, you walk in under the (small) screen so the screen is way up in the air. The few times I have gone to torture a viewing I sit in the last row and I still have to look up. I can not image sitting up close, you would get a stiff neck. Sound is not very good and the wall between the two screens is thin so you hear what is going on in the other screen. Might look nice in a picture but it is not a good movie experience. The old balcony has a huge wall to wall screen the width of the original building. But since there are stairs, it is not handicapped accessible and no longer used.
I saw the first Harry Potter film here….a very cute theater
No showtimes or listings for this theatre, closed?
This theatre does very little marketing. It could sell more tickets if it posts showtimes online.
The original Royal Theatre on this sie was razed in 1947. Fox built the current Royal Theatre on this site and opened the new theatre on January 27, 1949 with the world premiere of “The Sun Looks UP”.
Theater has been closed about 1 ½ years when film prints were no longer available. It’s for sale http://www.ucgatewayauctions.com/property.aspx?item=62536&agency=15023&re=1#.VhhluyvVbIU
The stupid trashy ‘mall’ has been ripped out, and the theater is looking a lot better. The front seems to be the front again, so to speak.
The description needs to be updated. It describes the cheesy fake entrance stuck on the back of the building as if it were the front. It’s been removed as well.