Historic Owen Theatre

50sSNIPES on December 29, 2023 at 8:44 pm

This is one out of two Owen Theatres in the city of Branson, the name Owen was named after Branson’s then-mayor and famous “king of the Ozarks” Jim M. Owens (1904-1972).

The older and first Owen Theatre started life as the Gayety Theatre, but was renamed the Owen Theatre in the early-1930s.

In mid-August 1935, Mr. N.E. Morrison of St. James, Missouri wrote a letter to mayor Owen, asking for his support and advice in connection with a proposal to construct a newer movie house in a special way, saying that he have been “informed that there is a real need for a good showhouse in Branson”. After receiving his letter, not just he wrote a letter back to Morrison but he also wrote a letter to Glen Dickinson of the Dickinson Theatres chain. After a successful agreement, construction of the newer Owen Theatre began in March 1936.

The newer and second Owen Theatre opened its doors on June 5, 1936 as a replacement of the older Owen Theatre which closed the previous day. Its grand opening attraction is not found yet at this time. Since opening, Dickinson Theatres was the main operator of the theater, and remained like that for nearly 40 years of its operation.

The Owen was Branson’s first-run movie house for the longest time, but when the Table Rock Twin Cinema opened nearby in September 1975, it began a little competition. The Owen Theatre closed as a first-run movie house in the late-1970s.

A short time later, the Owen reopened as a popular venue for live performances, concerts, performing arts, and special events (plus additional movies for rare occasions).