Landers Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Landers Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Missouri
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| Location | Springfield, Missouri |
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| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Carl Boller |
| Architectural style | neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000806 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1977 |
The Landers Theatre is a historic building in Springfield, Missouri. It was built way back in 1909! This makes it one of the oldest and biggest theaters still running in Missouri. Since it first opened, it has always been used as a place for live shows or for showing movies.
In 1928, the Landers Theatre was one of the first places in the world to get sound film. This meant movies could finally have sound! The theater was designed by architects Carl Boller and Brother. They gave it a special look called neoclassical style, which was inspired by French designs. You can find this amazing theater in the Walnut Street Commercial Historic District.
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A Look Inside: Unique Building Design
The Landers Theatre has some interesting secrets in its design. Most buildings like it from that time used strong materials like steel or iron for their main structure. But the Landers Theatre used wood for almost all of its frame!
This might be because the first owner, D.J. Landers, was in the lumber business. So, he had a lot of wood available. Even where steel was used, it was put together in a special way with masonry (like bricks or stones). The theater was built especially for live performances, with a big stage and lots of space for actors and props.
Outside Beauty: Limestone and Terra Cotta
The front of the theater, which faces the street, is very beautiful. It uses strong Missouri limestone pillars. These are decorated with fancy terra cotta pieces. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay used for decoration.
You can see decorative cornices (fancy ledges), cartouches (oval designs), quoins (corner stones), and parapets (low walls). The spaces between these decorations are filled with brick, giving the theater a classic and grand look.
Overcoming Challenges: The 1920 Fire
In 1920, a big fire broke out at the Landers Theatre. The fire completely destroyed the stage area. Luckily, the rest of the theater was saved by a special fireproof curtain made of asbestos. This curtain helped stop the fire from spreading further into the audience area.
After the fire, the theater was fixed up and improved. The area where the orchestra played was moved behind the curtain. The special boxes for people to sit in were also raised higher. Big, strong beams were put in to support the balconies, replacing old columns. Also, separate entrances that were once used for different groups of people were removed, making the theater more welcoming for everyone.
A Star on TV: Five Star Jubilee
From March to September in 1961, something very exciting happened at the Landers Theatre. A live country music show called Five Star Jubilee was broadcast from the theater on NBC-TV. This show aired every Friday night.
It was a big deal because it was the first network color television series ever to be broadcast live from outside of New York City or Hollywood! Even with the TV show happening, the theater still showed new movies on the other six nights of the week.
A Historic Landmark: National Recognition
The Landers Theatre is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was recognized for its beautiful Baroque Renaissance and Napoleon architectural style.
Over the years, many big projects have been done to restore the theater and keep it looking its best. The most recent restoration work has even won awards from the American Institute of Architects, which is a big honor!
Today, the Landers Theatre is the proud home of the Springfield Little Theatre. This group puts on many wonderful shows for the community.
