Star Theatre
115 West Avenue S,
Lyons,
KS
67554
115 West Avenue S,
Lyons,
KS
67554
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Odeon Theatre
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This theatre was located in the southern section of a really spectacular Victorian commercial block. Constructed between 1884 and 1888, it was a two story brick building with large tin-clad bay windows. The 1912 map shows a hardware store here with photo gallery above.
This theatre does not seem to have opened before 1914-15, as it is not listed in the AMPD. In 1926, it is listed as the Odeon Theatre, with 380 seats. 1931 shows it still a silent theatre, erroneously listed as the ‘Odson’ with 410 seats. By 1937, the name had been changed to the Star Theatre.
Photos show the theatre still in operation around 1970, but the building was sadly destroyed by the early-1990’s to be replaced by a dreary little park. This entire block has now been laid waste, with only an ugly shed on the north end.
Contributed by
Seth Gaines
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
KHRI entry here: https://khri.kansasgis.org/index.cfm?in=159-3370-00002
The earliest mention I’ve found of the Odeon in movie industry trade journals is from the January 13, 1923 issue of Moving Picture World, which said that owner J. H. Townsley had recently given a free show to demonstrate his appreciation for the patronage the house had received over the previous year. However, the local Lyons daily News had mentioned the Odeon at least as early as February 26, 1915.
But here is the most interesting (and puzzling) bit: The December 9, 1911 issue of The Billboard has a photo of the front of a theater titled “ODEON THEATRE, LYONS, KANSAS” and the May 31 issue of The Western Contractor that same year had published this item: “LYONS, KANS.-The Odeon theatre is to be completely remodeled this summer. A new stucco front, inclined floors, ventilating system, fire exits, seats, decorations, etc., will be installed and a 40x24 foot addition to rear of building erected. Manager Skilkett owns the house.”
As the premises at 115 West Avenue S. were occupied by a hardware store in 1912, the earlier Odeon must have been at a different location, but I’ve been unable to discover where, or what became of it. An item in the February 25, 1913 issue of a trade publication called The Furniture Journal said that J. P. Blevins' furniture store at Lyons, Kansas had been completely destroyed on the night of January 29 by a fire which began when a stove exploded in an adjoining moving picture theater. Though it doesn’t give the name of the theater, it does seem quite possible that it was this earlier Odeon, and that the theater was also completely destroyed by the fire, forcing its relocation to 115 West Avenue.
The 1912 map shows the larger northern section of this building as a furniture store, with a movie theater in the next building to the north. That building certainly had room for an extension to the rear. I added that as an unknown theater. I bet that was the original Odeon.