 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2009-10-01 09:07:00
Remember...
Some of the best memories I ever had as a kid were at the different movie theatres. Do you remember them?
Answer: Do I ever. As a matter of fact, I met up with Ken Crockett the other day at a local cafeteria. Ken is in top management for Bill Warren, owner of the Warren Theatre chain. He asked me, “Why don’t you write more about the old history of Wichita theatres?” So, the first chance I got…I did.
I remember the Crawford Theatre. It was part of the Sullivan theatre group and originally was a part of a vaudeville chain here in our city. The two major houses as they are called in the business were the Orpheum, another vaudeville house, and at the time, the Miller Theatre, which was Wichita’s most luxurious. The Miller Theatre had a five, manual, pipe organ and featured the talents of one of our city’s great musicians…Raymond Shelley. Ray did concerts and a daily radio show on KANS, now KLEO, plus some community sings that were shown in theatres across the country.
Wichita had so many great theatres. On Douglas was the Palace and across the street was the Wichita. Just south was the Sandra and also south the Southern. Back downtown were smaller theaters such as the Novelty, later called the Coral, the State and the Victory. Up North was the Nomar. On East Douglas was the Uptown which is now a dinner theatre. The Civic was located on W. Douglas. Now Bill Warren has his chain of theatres….all state of the art and beautiful multi-complex houses.
I started my working days as a teenager as a doorman at the Orpheum. Bill Warren started there too but later. I remember so many things about the Orpheum, but one of them that sticks in my mind were the long lines when the movie features changed back in the 40’s. The theatres always sold out on the first night. You see, there was no TV then.
Movies have always been great….and what great places we have had here in Wichita to enjoy them…and still do! Maybe I will see you at one soon. In the meantime, enjoy this most beautiful time of year.
