Wichita Theatre

Fox Midwest closed the Wichita Theatre at the end of a leasing period on November 30, 1960 with “Ten Who Dared” and “The Half Pint.” The building was demolished in July of 1970.

Unless the original building was demolished and a new theater built on the site, this house opened in 1905 as the Crystal Theatre. This article is from the January 20, 1905, issue of The Wichita Eagle:

“NEW VAUDEVILLE HOUSE

“Crystal Theater to Open on East Douglas Avenue.

“The building at 310 East Douglas avenue is being remodeled for the purpose of a playhouse. The work has been going on at the building for some time, and is rapidly nearing completion. The building will be occupied by the Crystal Theater and will be used entirely for vaudeville purposes. The theater will be owned and operated by the Crystal Theater company, with main offices in Denver and San Francisco.”

The “Hot Rod Gang” World Premiere was at the Wichita Theatre in August 1958, photo added via John Stutzer. More about the premiere in the link below.

http://www.kansas.com/cars/article1112410.html

The Moving Picture World of March 15, 1919, confirms J.D.’s surmise that the Wichita Theatre was designed by Carl Boller. The article says nothing of a Reproduco, or any organ or piano at this time, but says that the Wichita Theatre had a 12-piece orchestra accompanying the movies at both the evening and the matinée performances.

The Wichita very likely had a Reproduco to accompany the silent flicks. These instruments combined a piano with three ranks of organ pipes and used player piano-type rolls.

Listed in the Film Daily Yearbook;1941 & 1943 editions as having a seating capacity of 1,400. At that time it was being operated by Fox Midwest Amusement Corp.