Fox–Watson Theater Building

The Stiefel Theatre (originally the Fox–Watson Theater) is in Salina, Kansas. Opened in 1931,[1] it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as the "Fox–Watson Theater Building".[2]

For other uses, see Fox Theatre.
Stiefel Theatre
Side exterior c. 2015
Full nameStiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Former namesFox–Watson Theater (1931–1987)
Address151 S Santa Fe Ave
Salina, KS 67401-2809
LocationDowntown Salina
Coordinates38.83847°N 97.60876°W / 38.83847; -97.60876
OwnerCity of Salina
Capacity1,265
Construction
OpenedFebruary 23, 1931 (1931-02-23)
Renovated1997-2003
Construction costUS$400,000 (equivalent to $6,817,000 in 2022)
ArchitectBoller Brothers
Website
Official website
Fox–Watson Theater Building
Architectural styleArt Deco
NRHP reference No.88001171
Added to NRHPAugust 4, 1988

History
Marquee for Mat Kearney, May 2015

The Fox–Watson Theatre was opened in late February 1931 by Winfield W. Watson, a local businessman and banker. He led the campaign and donated the land, to bring a movie house to Salina. Fox West Coast Theatres built the art deco style movie house at a cost of US$400,000 (equivalent to $6,817,000 in 2022). Boller Brothers, an architectural firm out of Kansas City, Missouri, designed the structure.[3]

The opening feature was Not Exactly Gentlemen featuring Fay Wray. The theater was closed in August 1987 by then owners Dickinson Theaters, because competition from Dickinson's mall theaters made the downtown location unprofitable.

Dickinson gave the theater to the city in 1989. It was restored by a non-profit group over several years and reopened as The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts on March 8, 2003.[4]

Its mission is to "enrich, educate and entertain", and the programming goal is to "offer a broad base of quality entertainment in a variety of genres that will appeal to a large demographic". It houses the Salina Symphony.[5][6][7]

References
  1. "Stiefel Watson Theatre". Abandoned, Old and Interesting Kansas. February 6, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  2. Hagedorn-Krass, Martha (April 22, 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Fox–Watson Theater Building". National Park Service. Retrieved February 9, 2016. Accompanying 31 photos from 1931, 1937, and 1988.
  3. "The Historic Stiefel Theatre in Salina, Kansas". Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts. February 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  4. Salina History Book Committee, ed. (November 17, 2008). Salina: 1858-2008 (Images of America). Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 89. ISBN 9780738561813.
  5. Demuth, Gary (March 1, 2015). "Stiefel Theatre director strives to book diversity of musical acts for all ages". The Salina Journal. Harris Enterprises. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. Schnyder, Melinda (September 16, 2016). "Road trip to one of Kansas' historic theaters". The Wichita Eagle. The McClatchy Company. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  7. "Stiefel Theatre Shows since 2003". Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts Official Website. July 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
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