Blair Theatre facts for kids
|
The Blair
|
|
| Address | 1310 19th St Belleville, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Location | U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°49′21.1″N 97°37′50″W / 39.822528°N 97.63056°W |
| Owner | Blair Center for the Arts Foundation |
| Capacity | 369 |
| Screens | 1 |
| Current use | Cinema, Rentals, Community Events |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1927 |
| Built | 1928 |
| Opened | December 24, 1928 |
| Renovated | 1987 2000–2008 |
| Closed | 1997 |
| Reopened | November 8, 2008 |
| Builder | Blair Theatre Enterprises |
| Project manager | Sam H. Blair |
The Blair Theatre is a cool place located in North Central Kansas. It's in the city of Belleville, Kansas, which is in Republic County.
Contents
History of the Blair Theatre
Building the Blair Theatre started in 1927. It was built by a company called Blair Theatre Enterprises. When workers were digging to build the theater, they found the bones of a cowboy buried there!
The outside of the theater looks like old Spanish buildings. The main show room, called the auditorium, was designed to look like beautiful gardens in a place called Andalusia.
At first, it was a place for "Vaudeville" shows. These were live shows with different acts like singing, dancing, and comedy. Later, it became a movie theater. There was even a sandwich shop and a Western Union office (where people sent messages and money) in what is now the lobby.
In 1938, the inside of the auditorium was updated with a cool, modern style called Art Deco. In 1941, the theater was sold to a new company, Commonwealth Theaters.
Changes to the Theatre in the 1980s
In June 1987, Commonwealth Theaters sold the Blair Theatre. It was bought by Struve Enterprises, Inc., from Deshler, Nebraska.
The big auditorium was split in half to create two movie screens. The lobby also had a small video rental shop where people could rent movies.
Closing and Community Efforts
The theater closed on May 1, 1996. This was because it faced a lot of competition from school and community events. Even though it closed, the lobby still rented out videos for a while.
When no one bought the building, it was given to the city of Belleville. In July 1996, the city manager suggested turning it into a community center. One part would be an auditorium, another an exhibit hall, and the lobby could be used for small parties.
The city worked with Kansas State University to study how the theater could be used. They also looked at how much it would cost to fix it up. This study was shared with the city on December 13, 1997.
In May 1999, a group called the Highbanks Hall of Fame & National Midget Auto Racing Museum wanted to use the lobby. They wanted to display racing items. The city agreed to let them use it temporarily. This agreement lasted until December 31, 2000.
The Blair Center for the Arts Foundation
In January 2000, a local art group called the North Central Kansas Association of Artists (NCKAA) became interested in the theater. They helped create a non-profit group called the Blair Center for the Arts Foundation. This group wanted to bring the theater back to life. Their goal was to make it a place for the community to use and enjoy.
Over the next few years, the Foundation worked hard to raise money. With help from tax credits, private donations, and some government funding, they started fixing up the theater. By November 2008, they were able to open the theater again! It started showing movies and hosting small community events.
In the late 2010s, the Blair Foundation began planning to add a second movie screen. They own a building next door and want to turn it into another cinema. This would allow them to offer even more movies and events to the community.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
On March 22, 2020, the Blair Theatre temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened on June 8, 2020. However, it later stopped its regular shows on July 30, 2020. This was due to low ticket sales and more COVID-19 cases in the area.
What's Happening Now at the Blair Theatre
Today, the Blair Theatre shows movies for everyone to enjoy. It also hosts many local community events. It's a busy place for people in Belleville!
Future Restoration Plans
Most of the work on the audience side of the proscenium (the arch around the stage) was finished before the theater reopened in 2008. However, the areas behind the stage, like the backstage and stagecraft areas, are not yet complete. The Blair Foundation is currently planning what is needed to finish these parts of the theater.
See also
