 | 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
2003-06-01 16:04:00
Do you remember?
: How many theatres did Wichita have in the 1950's? What were the names?
ANSWER: In the 1950's, the Pre-TV era, in downtown Wichita and throughout the city, our town stimulated the growth of the big movie houses and neighborhood theatres. Downtown Wichita hosted the two 'Queens' of the industry. The Orpheum Theatre, still located on North Broadway, opened in 1922 as part of a national vaudeville house circuit. Its stage hosted many entertainment legends such as Red Skelton, Ella Fitzgerald, Gypsy Rose Lee, George Burns and Gracie Allen, and Bing Crosby. The Orpheum is a work in progress today and is listed on the National Register of Historic Theatres. One can still enjoy the beauty of the Orpheum with a variety of events such as vintage and classic films, stage shows and musical productions. The Miller Theater, even larger in seating capacity with 2,000, was located on North Broadway. It featured a 5 manual pipe organ used for community sings with Raymond Shelley, which was broadcast and filmed for use in theatres across the country. Many theatres were located on Douglas Street such as the Wichita, Palace, State, Victory, Novelty, and later The Coral. Located on West Douglas were the Crest, Civic, and West Theatres. On East Douglas, The Crown Uptown in College Hill is still open today as a dinner theater and host to many school children's field trips featuring hot dog matinees. The Sandra Theater was downtown and the Boulevard Theater was at the corner of George Washington and Lincoln Streets in the Boulevard Plaza Shopping Center. The Airport Theater was located at the old Municipal Airport and the Terrace was on North Hillside. Neighborhood theatres were just walking distance from home. The Nomar on North Market, The Dunbar on North Cleveland, The Southern on East Harry, The Sunset on Lulu Avenue, The Tower on East Central, and in the neighborhood of Plainview, The Plainview Theatre. These names make me recall some great memories of the giant movie theatres that we enjoyed, not to mention all the drive-ins. There is only one drive-in left in Wichita now, The Starlight Drive-In in South Wichita. But, in those days we had the 81 Drive-In just north of the city limits on North Broadway, the Meadow Lark Drive-In on East Harry, and the Pawnee at Broadway and Pawnee, the Westport on South West St. the K-42 on Highway 42, and the 54 Drive-In on East Kellogg. Today, Wichita has seen a renewed passion and growth in theatres with the vision of Bill Warren's Warren Theatre concepts. Again, we can look forward to the giant screen experience and the memories and decor that these theatres will project. Maybe some of you can help me remember. What was the name of the theatre that was located on Douglas Street, two blocks west of West Street? It was in a Quonset hut. If you remember, please let me know!
