The Plaza Grill and Cinema

Plaza 1907 (formerly known as The Plaza Grill and Cinema and Crystal Plaza and The Bijou) is located in Ottawa, Kansas and has been named "oldest purpose-built cinema in operation in the world",[1][2] having applied to Guinness World Records in June 2017 and beaten out a theatre in Denmark by two days.[3]

Photo from 1971 NRHP application – theatre far left.
Plaza 1907
The Bijou
The Crystal Plaza
The Plaza
Façade in 2018
Address209 S. Main
Ottawa, Kansas
United States
Coordinates38°26′55.2276″N 95°16′6.1854″W
OwnerScott Zaremba
DesignationWorld's oldest purpose-built cinema currently in operation[1]
Current useMovie Theatre
OpenedMay 22, 1907 (1907-05-22)
Website
Plaza Grill and Cinema

The theatre is part of the Downtown Ottawa Historic District, which was listed June 29, 1972.[4]

History

A donation of historic photographs were presented to the Franklin County Historical Society in 2013 included photos of the theater from the early 20th century. Newspaper stories published in 1905 describe movies being shown by Fred Beeler in the building now occupied by the Plaza Grill and Cinema. "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," said Deb Barker, executive director of the Franklin County Historical Society. The Historical Society hopes to market the theater as a tourist destination.[5] BELOW IS THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE AND SOURCES PROVING THE HISTORY OF PLAZA 1907

· Pickrell Building 1885 Source: Kansas State Historical Society Pickrell Building 1885 Source: US National Historical Registry Pickrell Building 1885 Source: Copy of United States Department of Interior Approval 1905 Annuls of Ottawa Article Movie Theatre mention upstairs at 213 S. Main moving quickly to 211 S. Main 1907 Ottawa Kansas City Directory Location: Franklin County Historical Society p.36, E.E. Wagner, Mngr. 211 S. Main 1910 Ottawa City Directory pg 58 Crystal Theatre C.J. Clark Propr. 211 S. Main 1913 Ottawa City Directory Crystal Theatre (A.D. Birch) 211 S. Main 1916 Ottawa City Directory 211 S. Main Propr. W.A. Millington (moving pictures) 1917 Crystal Theatre Fire Ottawa Herald Story- March 1, 1917 (copy of story) 1917 Ottawa Herald Article “Washburn & Son are drawing plans for remodeling After fire” (copy of story) 1921 Ottawa City Directory 211 South Main Mgr W.A. Millington 1922 Ottawa City Directory Crystal Theatre 209 S. Main Mgr. G.E. Klock 1926 Ottawa Herald Ad For Movies Playing at Crystal 1926 Ottawa Herald Ad For Movies Playing at Crystal, Ottawa Tele Directory 1929 Ottawa Herald Ad First Talkie Movies at Crystal 1930 Newspaper Story Fox Midwest purchased the Crystal and remodeled 1934 City Building Permit “Plaza” 209 South Main permit for bathroom fixtures 1934 Newspaper Story Front Page “Reconstruction of Crystal is announced by E.D Dorrel Mgr Fox Theatres 1935 Newspaper Story February Grand Opening of remodeled Plaza 1935 City Directory pg 226 Plaza Theatre North Main 1938 City Directory pg 213 209 South Main 1941 City Directory pg 202 Plaza Theatre 209 South Main 1946 City Directory pg 231 Plaza Theatre 209 South Main 1950 City Directory pg 239 Plaza Theatre 209 South Main 1953 City Directory pg 218 Plaza Theatre 209 South Main 1955 City Directory pg 232 Plaza 209 South Main 1957 City Directory pg 141 Plaza Theatre Eugene Sappington Manager 209 South Main 1959 City Directory pg 112 Plaza Theatre Eugene Sappinton 209 South Main 1961 City Directory pg 156 Plaza Theatre Chester A Hylton mgr 209 South 1962 City Directory pg 125 Plaza Theatre Chester A Hylton mgr 209 South 1964 City Directory pg 128 Plaza Theatre Leon Roberston Mgr 209 South 1965 City Directory pg 113 Plaza Theatre Leon Robertson Mgr 209 South 1966 City Directory pg 104 Plaza Theatre Leon Roberson Mgr 209 South 1967 City Directory pg 110 Plaza Theatre Frank Banning Mgr 209 south 1969 City Directory pg 116 Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews Jr. 209 South 1970 City Directory pg 103 Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews Jr. 209 South 1971 City Directory pg 104 Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews JR 209 South 1972 City Directory pg 105 Plaza Theatre Francis Glenn Mgr 209 South Main 1973 City Directory pg 107 Plaza Theatre Robert Clark Mgr. 209 South Main 1974 City Directory pg 120 Plaza Theatre Jerry Mason Mgr. 209 South Main 1975 City Directory pg.113 Plaza Theatre Jerry Mason Mgr. 209 South Main 1976 City Directory pg 122 Plaza Theatre Wayne Zarachary Mgr 209 South 1977 City Directory pg 130 Plaza Theatre Wayne Zacachary Mgr 209 South 1979 City Director pg 133 Plaza Theatre Joe Matthews JR Mgr 209 South 1980 City Directory pg 137 Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main 1981 City Directory pg 136 Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main 1982 City Directory pg 132 Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main 1983 City Directory pg 133 Plaza Theatre Danel Cope Mgr.209 South Main 1984 City Directory pg 142 Plaza Theatre Daniel H. Cope Mgr 209 South Ma 1985 City Directory pg 149 Plaza Theatre Linda Wrisner Mgr 209 south Main 1986 City Directory pg 142 Plaza Theatre Scott Maples Mgr. 209 south Main 1987 City Directory pg 142 Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby 1988 City Directory pg 141 Plaza Theatre “ 1989 City Directory pg 151 Plaza Theatre “ 1990 City Directory pg 148 Plaza Theatre “ 1991 City Directory pg 151 Plaza Theatre “ 1992 City Directory pg 38 Plaza Theatre “ 1993 City Directory pg 40 Plaza Theatre “ 1994 City Directory pg 46 Plaza Theatre “ 1999 City Directory pg 44 Plaza Theatre Steven Bagby 209 South Main 2000- 2005 Richard Dimoush 2005 -2014 Ted & Rita Madl 2014 - Present Scott Zaremba

References
  1. Ottomanelli, Victoria. "Cinema named world's oldest in operation by Guinness World Records". WCVB. ABC. … named the world's 'oldest purpose-built cinema in operation' by Guinness …
  2. Carter, Doug (27 September 2013). "'Cinemagic' find". Ottawa Herald. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  3. Joy, William (24 March 2018). "Ottawa theater is 'World's Oldest'". The Salina Journal. p. A5. It beat out a theater in Denmark by two days.
  4. "National Register of Historic Places". NPGallery Digital Asset Management System. National Park Service. 29 June 1972. Retrieved 26 March 2018. Ottawa ; E side of S. Main St. from No. 135 to 3rd St.
  5. "Kansas movie theater discovers it is the oldest operating theater in America". plazacinemaottawa.com. Plaza Cinema. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
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