Our Past Is Present January 31, 2018

January 31, 2018

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Today’s story comes from an article written by our Programs and Education Director, Jennifer Dixon. The article was titled “More Than 100 Years of Moving Pictures in Junction City”.  Jennifer wrote:” There is a long history of moving pictures in Junction City beginning in 1907 at the Lyric Theater.  One of the first of its kind, the theater was owned by Ira Bermant and was located at 603 N. Washington Street.”  Admission was five cents. 

            “On the same street was the Aurora Theater, also established in 1907.  It seated 400 people.  The Columbia Theater was established in 1917 at 925 N. Washington Street.  Unfortunately, the Columbia Theater burned down after World War I. In 1918, J.A. Howe opened The Cozy Theater on N. Washington Street after delays from the influenza epidemic.

In 1928, The Uptown Theatre debuted the silent feature “Four Walls” to a crowd of 800 people. The Uptown later became the Dickinson and in 1939 was called The Junction Theater. 

            During the Depression in 1934, The Kaw Theater opened at 907 N. Washington Street. Two of the most popular features were “Gone With The Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz”. 

In 1946 the Commonwealth Theaters purchased the old Opera House on Seventh and Jefferson Streets. It was called the Colonial Theater. And… who could forget the Midway-Drive on Grant Avenue as another form of watching a movie while sitting in your car.  

            Today we have the B&B Gem Theaters on Sixth Street with five theaters in one building.  There are reclining leather seats, a huge screen and surround sound. 

            That’s 100 years of movie history in about two minutes.  Join us tomorrow for more history of Geary County on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.