Larned Opera House

The Larned Opera House is where citizens of the area likely saw their first motion pictures. The opera house opened March 19, 1887 in the upstairs of a newly-created set of two-story brick buildings and was run by John Schnack beginning in 1891. In 1902, Schnack and his partner were early pioneers in the Edison Exhibition Company. Schnack would begin and end his touring season at the Larned Opera House where they saw such films as “The Great Train Robbery”.

In 1910, Schnack established the Electric Theatre in a transformed spot downstairs near the Opera House. That proved so successful that four years later, he went across the street and established a more permanent Electric Theatre lasting some 40 years. Schnack’s 50th year in motion pictures was celebrated with John Schnack Week in Larned in May of 1952 attended by other luminaries of motion picture exhibition in a two-state area.

Get Movie Tickets & Showtimes

Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.