Vox Theatre

Vox Theatre

Vox Theatre
Location 1405 Southwest Boulevard.
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas
Type Silent Movie Theatre
Capacity 250 originally
300 currently
Construction
Built 1922
Opened 1922
Renovated 2009
Website
Vox Theatre Official Website

The Vox Theatre is an event space located in Rosedale, Kansas.Coordinates: 39°3′31″N 94°37′45″W / 39.05861°N 94.62917°W / 39.05861; -94.62917

The Vox Theatre

History

The Vox Theatre opened as the Rosedale Theatre on December 20, 1922 as a silent movie theater. The Rosedale Theatre was originally owned by T.L. Ricksecker and cost $30,000 to construct. The theater is located at 1405 Southwest Boulevard in the Rosedale neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas.(1) Originally it was located across the street from Whitmore School. The Whitmore School was razed in 1973 and replaced by Whitmore Park.

In the early 1940s, the name of the theatre was changed to the Vox Theatre and the venue was playing movies with sound.(2)

By the early 1960s, the trend of small intimate theatres gave way to the large drive-in theatres and the Vox Theatre was sold to Westport Heating and Cooling which used the building to manufacture sheet metal ductwork. Later, the space housed a workshop for restoring antique automobiles.

In January 2009, Alistair Tutton purchased the building and brought back the name the Vox Theatre. Tutton remodeled the space to be used for his photography studio and an event space. With the space being 5,000 square feet (460 m2) with 20-foot (6.1 m) ceilings the ability to transform the space into many different uses was created.

Vox Theatre in 1922
Original Seat and Light Fixture
Original Tin Ceiling

Remodeled

During the remodel, the current owner tried to keep as much of the original structure as possible. The original pressed tin ceiling was preserved. The projection room was converted to office space which houses, Alistair Tutton Photography, Vox Theatre Event Space and Springboard Creative. Although, the balcony no longer exists, the archways that lead to the balcony are still present. The original stage floor has also been preserved. Stage curtains were purchased from a local high school and along with the refurbished stage valance lighting the theatre look was complete.

Nearby Sites of Interest

References

(1) The Winding Valley and The Craggy Hillside: A History of the City of Rosedale, Kansas by Margaret Landis, Copyright 1976, ASIN B0006CRK64.
 (2) The 50's In Wyandotte County by Murrel Bland, Copyright 2005, ISBN 9780963686312

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