Folly Theater facts for kids
The Standard Theatre, now known as the Folly Theater, is a historic building in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. It was once a popular place for vaudeville shows, which were like variety shows with different acts. Built in 1900, the theater was designed by a famous Kansas City architect named Louis S. Curtiss.
Quick facts for kids |
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Standard Theatre (Folly Theater)
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The Folly Theater in 1973 as a burlesque house
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri |
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| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Louis S. Curtiss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001074 |
| Added to NRHP | June 05, 1974 |
Contents
The Folly Theater's Early Days
The Standard Theatre first opened its doors on September 23, 1900. It had 2,400 seats and showed popular vaudeville and burlesque performances. Burlesque shows were a type of entertainment that often included comedy, music, and dancing. Colonel Edward Butler from St. Louis, Missouri built the theater for his son. It cost $250,000, which was a lot of money back then!
In 1901, a fire at another theater nearby meant that opera and comic opera shows moved to the Standard. Famous performers like Sarah Bernhardt and Maude Adams appeared on its stage.
Name Changes and Famous Performers
The theater's name changed to the "Century" in 1902. It continued to host many popular acts. Some of the well-known entertainers who performed there included Al Jolson, Fannie Brice, and Eddie Foy.
Besides stage shows, the Century also held exciting boxing and wrestling matches. Famous boxers like Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey competed there. Jack Johnson even stayed in the manager's apartment because some hotels wouldn't rent him a room.
Becoming Shubert's Missouri
In 1923, the Shubert brothers, who were big names in theater, bought the Century. They renovated it and renamed it "Shubert's Missouri." They brought in serious plays, including works by Shakespeare and O'Neill.
The famous Marx Brothers performed their show I'll Say She Is for three weeks in 1923-24. Their long run helped convince the Shuberts to keep the theater open. However, after 1928, fewer people came to shows, and the theater eventually closed in 1932.
The Folly Reopens
After some time, the theater reopened in 1941 as "The Folly." It continued to feature various performers, including Gypsy Rose Lee and Tempest Storm. The Folly kept entertaining audiences until it closed again in January 1974. In its later years, starting in 1969, it also began showing movies.
Saving the Folly Theater
In 1974, the theater's owners announced they might tear it down to build a parking lot. This news worried many people who loved the historic building. A group of local people who wanted to save old buildings, including Joan Dillon, quickly formed a group called the Performing Arts Foundation.
Their goal was to raise money to buy and restore the theater. The theater was for sale for $950,000. The foundation raised $350,000 through donations. They also convinced the owners to donate the remaining $600,000 of the price.
Restoration and Modern Updates
In 1974, the Folly was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes important historical sites. To raise more money for repairs, a special fundraiser called "Strip the Folly" was held. It featured Sally Rand, a performer who had once appeared at the Folly.
After seven years of hard work, the theater was fully renovated and reopened in 1981. They even built a new annex next to it where the old Edward Hotel used to be.
In 2000, for the Folly's 100th birthday, they added a new lobby, restrooms, and a special room called the Shareholders' Room. In 2005, the main auditorium was restored to its original colors. There are also plans to add a new marquee sign that looks like the original Folly sign.
The Folly Today
Today, the Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas City runs the Folly Theater. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping Kansas City's oldest historic theater alive. Their goal is to offer many different kinds of quality shows for the community.
The Folly hosts its own Jazz Series, a Kids Series, and "Cyprus Avenue Live!" performances with artists playing blues, rock, and country music. It also welcomes other groups like the Harriman-Jewell Series for classical music, the Friends of Chamber Music, and the Heartland Men's Chorus.
What the Folly Theater Looks Like
The outside of the Folly Theater is made of light-colored limestone and red bricks. It has a special window design called a Palladian window in the center. The bottom part of the building has three arched entrances made of rough-looking limestone.
The building is about 125 feet deep, 70 feet wide, and 65 feet high. Inside, the building uses both steel and wood for its structure. There's a basement under the stage for machinery and backstage areas.
Inside the Theater
When you enter, you go through a lobby and past the box office. The main seating area has three sections of seats facing a beautifully decorated arch around the stage. There are also balcony-level boxes on the sides and a main balcony at the back.
The stage has special areas for scenery and ten dressing rooms for performers. The inside of the theater is mostly decorated in red and gold colors.
The outside of the Folly Theater hasn't changed much over the years. However, the inside has been updated quite a bit. In 1923, the lobby was made smaller, and the seating capacity was reduced. Today, the Folly Theater has 1,078 seats.
Images for kids
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The Folly Theatre in 2010. The ball on the pole on top is dropped each New Year's Eve in Kansas City, similar to the Times Square Ball.
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Robin Carnahan campaigning with Barack Obama at the Folly on July 8, 2010.
