Downtown Crystal Plaza theater's varied history in town
The Crystal Plaza at 209 S. Main St. has housed many ventures since 1885, from a livery stable to a barber shop, millinery, billiard hall, photography studio, confectionery, restaurant, jeweler, and tobacco store. The Bijou opened in 1909 as the first movie theater, with 1911 events including wrestling, boxing, hypnosis acts, and a new silver screen added that January.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kelly Stroda
Herald
Crystal Plaza
S. Main St
William Thomas Pickrell
Pickrell
the Bijou
Louis Reed
the Herald
Harry Hickey
Carl Drake
Hickey
Alzeda
Reed
Plaza Theater
China
Alan Ladd
Loretta Young
The Crystal Theatre Fire and Timeline in Ottawa
Franklin County archives show the Crystal Theatre had six owners from 1912 to 1929 before Midland Circuit and then Fox ownership. The 1917 fire left 250 attendees fleeing as pianist Harry Mapes played on to calm exits. the 580 seat venue was gutted, while Mapes and all patrons escaped. The building later reopened as The Plaza in 1937 after prior renamings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Crystal Theatre
Franklin County Historical Society
Midland Circuit
Midland
Fox
Reed
Ottawa
Harry Mapes
Mapes
Herald
2006 Renovation Revives Crystal Plaza Theater In Peach Madl Era
Peach Madl, owner of The Crystal Plaza, renovated the theater in 2006 after acquiring it from a former owner who was arrested. The foyer features white marble floors and black and white photos of stars like James Dean and Judy Garland. The layout was updated for comfort, with some seats removed. Reels from the 1950s are still used, taking about an hour to build and dismantle. The original 1917 fire pianist’s stage remains, now serving as gathering space before screenings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peach Madl
Crystal Plaza
Madl
James Dean
Judy Garland
Also Mentioned on This Page
Susan Geiss
The
Sary Bay
Catalog Merchant
ASL
Pyare J
Greenfield & Davidson
Chartered Certified Public Accountants
S. Main Street
Eanson Lumbing
N. Cedar
Franklin County
Electa
Renttoowncenter
Main
5Th & Main
Downton
West 1St
Ottawa, KS
Kevin
Dee James
Jeff
James
Gerken
15Th St
Rawa
Kenneth J. Frank
William H. Campbell
M.D
Ransom Memorial Hospital
Lawrence
Anderson County Hospital
Miami County Hospital
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!