The Plaza Grill and Cinema
|
The Bijou The Crystal Plaza The Plaza | |
| Address |
209 S. Main Ottawa, Kansas |
|---|---|
| Owner | Peach Madl |
| Current use | Movie Theatre |
| Opened | November 1905 |
| Website | |
| Plaza Grill and Cinema | |
The Plaza Grill and Cinema (formerly known as the Crystal Plaza and The Bijou) is located in Ottawa, Kansas and is one of the oldest, if not oldest, operating movie theater in America.[1]
History
Historical documents recently discovered by the Franklin County Historical Society show a carnival on Main Street in 1905 that included two tents showing films. Those films were The Great Train Robbery and The Great Bank Robbery. Later that year, the Guardian Newspaper documented many stories of a regular movie show being opened by Fred Beeler in the current Plaza Grill and Cinema building.
"The newspaper editor apparently was a big movie fan because he wrote many articles about what a wonderful cultural enrichment the movies were and what a fascinating and safe place for children during matinee showings" according to Deb Barker, executive director of the Franklin County Historical Society.
Discovery
After a 2013 donation of historic photographs were presented to the Franklin County Historical Society, executive director Deb Barker alerted Plaza Grill and Cinema owner, Peach Madl, that she had found photos of the Theater from the early 20th century. Kristi Lee, executive director at the Franklin County Tourism and Visitors Bureau, is the one who suggested the Plaza Grill and Cinema’s age preceded that of a theater in Denmark – Korsor Biograf Theater, which opened in Jan. 30, 1907 and is operated by a team of volunteers. Korsor was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest operating cinema in the world.
Transition to a Historical Site
With help from the Franklin County Historical Society, the Franklin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Midland Railway and the Kansas Belle Dinner Train, a group of Ottawa business leaders are embarking on a project to make The Plaza Grill and Cinema a regional destination for tourism. The plan is to re-create the movie theater experience by educating and entertaining guests from across the state and beyond. An Ottawa marketing/business consulting arm of the Ottawa Herald—Studio 104—is acting as the marketing and business development strategist led by Jeanny Sharp.
“We believe the economic impact created by a project of this size will be substantial, which makes it good for everyone,” -Kristi Lee, executive director at the Franklin County Tourism and Visitors Bureau.
Two of the more fun aspects will include an ornate ticket booth with a talking mannequin to issue tickets and an animated character to navigate guests through the displays including clothing and costumes made famous by movies and the stars who wore them. The final phase of the proposed “Plaza Cinemagic Experience” will be watching a 3D movie – complete with 3D glasses—turned into a 4D movie with the addition of wind, smell, rain, lights and fog.[2]
References
1905 Movie Theatre mentioned in both the Annuls of Ottawa, Kansas and an updated article from The Ottawa Herald 1907 City Directory Bijou at same address pg.36 E.E.Wagner Mngr. 211 S. Main.
External links
38°26′55.2276″N 95°16′6.1854″W / 38.448674333°N 95.268384833°WCoordinates: 38°26′55.2276″N 95°16′6.1854″W / 38.448674333°N 95.268384833°W