Midland Theatre

Midland Theatre is a historic entertainment venue in Kansas City, Missouri, located in the city's Power & Light District. Completed in 1927, the 3,000-seat theater was developed by Marcus Loew and originally operated as Loew's Midland Theatre. It was designed by New York architect Thomas W. Lamb in collaboration with Kansas City architects the Boller Brothers, with construction carried out by Boaz-Kiel Construction of St. Louis. The building represented the elaborate French and Italian Baroque mode associated with major American movie palaces of the late 1920s. The venue was conceived as more than a cinema. Its architecture included a Renaissance Revival exterior clad in cream glazed terra-cotta brick, extensive ornamental detailing, a large marquee fitted with approximately 3,600 light bulbs, and a grand interior decorated with more than 500,000 feet of gold leaf, large Czechoslovak hand-cut crystal chandeliers, woodwork, plasterwork, antiques, and other art objects. It originally contained a Robert Morton theater pipe organ, which supported the stage-show and organ-music traditions of the period. As sound film became dominant after World War II, the organ and the theater's earlier stage-oriented operating model declined; the organ was eventually removed and later installed at Kansas City's Music Hall. The theater closed in January 1961. After remodeling, it briefly reopened as an arena and hosted the Kansas City Stars, a professional bowling team, but that operation was unsuccessful and ended in December of the same year. The property subsequently returned to entertainment use under several names and formats. AMC Theatres, then a Kansas City-area regional theater chain, purchased the building in 1966. It continued operating as a movie house until 1981 and was operated in conjunction with AMC Empire Theatre as the AMC Midland-Empire complex. After its movie-theater period, Midland developed into a multipurpose performance hall. Its programming has included concerts, Broadway and stage productions, ballet, and other live events, as well as Kansas City's presentation of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in later years. The building's historic significance was recognized through its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. A major redevelopment began through a 2007 partnership between AEG Live and the Cordish Company. The project involved a multimillion-dollar renovation and was completed in time for the venue's reopening in late 2008. The redesign removed the main-level fixed seating and replaced it with a tiered open floor plan that could accommodate cabaret tables and chairs or standing-room general admission events. The original 1927 appearance of the exterior marquee was restored, while the five-level office section facing Main Street was converted into bars, lounges, and administrative areas. The developers stated that the work followed applicable state and federal historic-preservation requirements. Following the renovation, the venue was promoted as the Midland by AMC and hosted events promoted by AEG Presents, formerly known as AEG Live. In 2013, Arvest Bank entered a multiyear naming-rights partnership with AEG Live and the Cordish Company. The official name became Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland on September 13, 2013. Despite changes in ownership relationships, operating formats, and commercial names, the venue's enduring identity rests on its architectural heritage and its role as a major live-entertainment space in downtown Kansas City.

Midland Theatre was completed in 1927 for Marcus Loew and initially operated as Loew's Midland Theatre. Its creation formed part of the large-scale American movie-palace movement, in which cinema venues were designed as ornate civic attractions as well as places to watch films. Thomas W. Lamb of New York and the Boller Brothers of Kansas City were responsible for the design, while Boaz-Kiel Construction of St. Louis built the structure. The theater's exterior used cream glazed terra-cotta brick and Renaissance Revival detailing, including pilasters, winged figures, botanical ornament, swags, volutes, urns, and arches. A tall arched window rose above a marquee illuminated by roughly 3,600 bulbs. Inside, the building was distinguished by extensive gold-leaf decoration, five large Czechoslovak crystal chandeliers, valuable decorative objects, and elaborate wood and plaster work. A Robert Morton theater pipe organ supported the venue's original stage and music functions. Changing entertainment technology and audience habits altered the building's role. After World War II, sound films reduced the importance of live stage presentation and in-house organ music. The organ fell into disuse, was removed during the 1960s, and eventually found a new home at Kansas City's Music Hall. Midland closed in January 1961 and was remodeled for use as an arena. The Kansas City Stars professional bowling team occupied the building during this phase, but its operation ended by December of that year. AMC Theatres acquired the property in 1966. The theater remained a movie venue until 1981 and was operated alongside the AMC Empire Theatre under the AMC Midland-Empire identity. Thereafter, the building transitioned into a performance hall. Its uses included concerts, Broadway and other stage productions, ballet, and special events. It also served as a Kansas City venue for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. In 2007, AEG Live and the Cordish Company began a major redevelopment. The theater reopened in late 2008 as the Midland by AMC. Renovation work replaced the fixed main-floor seating with a tiered open configuration adaptable to cabaret seating or standing-room events, restored the marquee to its original appearance, and converted the street-facing office floors into hospitality and administrative areas. The redevelopment was presented as complying with historic-preservation requirements. A further commercial identity change occurred in 2013, when Arvest Bank obtained multiyear naming rights. The venue became Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland on September 13 of that year. Across its history, the theater has therefore operated as a movie palace, arena, cinema complex, and live-performance venue, while retaining its architectural identity as one of Kansas City's significant historic theaters.

• 2013

  Arvest Bank naming-rights agreement

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A multiyear naming-rights partnership changes the official venue name to Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland.

• 2008

  Renovated venue reopens

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater reopens with a flexible event floor, restored marquee, and new hospitality and administrative spaces.

• 2007

  Major redevelopment partnership is formed

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  AEG Live and the Cordish Company begin plans for a substantial renovation of the historic venue.

• 1977

  National Register listing

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Midland Theatre is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1966

  AMC Theatres acquires the venue

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  AMC purchases the Midland, which remains a movie house until 1981.

• 1961

  Cinema operation ends and arena experiment begins

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The building closes in January, reopens after remodeling as an arena, and ceases hosting the Kansas City Stars by December.

• 1927

  The theater opens as Loew's Midland Theatre

  [1]Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The 3,000-seat theater is completed in Kansas City's downtown area under the development of Marcus Loew.

A landmark Kansas City entertainment venue combining a preserved 1920s movie-palace setting with flexible contemporary programming for concerts, theater, dance, and special events.

• Performing arts venue · 1927

  Historic theater venue

  The core offering is a 3,000-seat historic theater in Kansas City's Power & Light District. Its ornate French and Italian Baroque interior, extensive gold-leaf decoration, crystal chandeliers, restored marquee, and preserved architectural features provide a heritage setting for public entertainment and private events.

• Entertainment programming

  Live entertainment programming

  Following its cinema era, Midland became a multipurpose performance hall for concerts, Broadway and stage productions, ballet, touring productions, and special events. Its renovated floor plan supports both seated cabaret-style configurations and standing-room general admission formats.

• Movie theater · 1927

  Cinema operation

  The building began as a movie palace and later operated under AMC ownership as a cinema. Movie-house use continued until 1981, after which the venue's primary role shifted toward live performance and other events.

• 2013

  Adopt a naming-rights identity through Arvest BankOther

  Background

  The venue's operators sought a commercial naming partnership coinciding with the fifth anniversary of its 2008 relaunch.

  Action taken

  AEG Live, the Cordish Company, and Arvest Bank announced a multiyear naming-rights agreement, making Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland the official name from September 13, 2013.

  Aftermath

  The venue continued operating as a live-performance facility under the Arvest Bank name.

  Source

• 2007

  Redevelop the historic theater as a flexible live-entertainment venueStrategy

  Background

  AEG Live and the Cordish Company formed a partnership to renew the historic property and support its return as a contemporary performance venue.

  Action taken

  The redevelopment introduced a tiered open floor, restored the original marquee, and converted the street-facing office levels into bars, lounges, and administrative areas.

  Aftermath

  The venue reopened in late 2008 and continued hosting concerts, theater, dance, and other live events.

  Source

1. 1Midland Theatreen.wikipedia.org