NOW SHOWING
UPCOMING APPEARANCES
Event Rentals We offer packages for every type of event.
Family Gathering
Watch your family home movies or movie of your choice.
Starting at $95.00 an hour
Weddings
We offer theater of your choice , seating of 90 to 125 per theater
Have your name in lights on our Marque
Price is dependent on time and length of event, start at $650.
Business Training events
We can help you connect with your team or employees thru big screen movies that are tailered to create ,motivate and instill loyalty.
Contact us for Pricing
BUSINESS TRAINING EVENTS
Use our state of the art projection and sound systems to create the perfect presentation on a 25' screen. use your powerpoint or any other multi-media format to present to audiances of up to 125
Plaza1907 Museum Tours
Take your group thru the museum.group rates are available
City Wide TOURS
We have tour packages of historic locations including the Railroad museum can include lunch or dinner or both for your group .
About Us
THE PLAZA CINEMA IS THE OLDEST OPERATING PURPOSE BUILT CINEMA IN THE WORLD !
That's right, since 1905 the Plaza Cinema has been playing (or projecting) motion pictures. Just imagine 100 years ago, a person kind of like you (would be very old now) was sitting in this same theater, watching a motion picture on the big screen! That's magical, that's why we love it here, and that's why we want you to love it too. Be our guest at the Plaza Cinema and discover the historical magic of movies, watch a new release, or watch a film from the past–you could even do all three.Our Movie Memorabilia Museum has new and exciting exhibits all the time–from Elvis's hair to real costumes worn in big motion pictures! Trust me, it's cool.
BELOW IS THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE AND SOURCES PROVING THE HISTORY OF PLAZA 1907
- · Pickrell Buiding 1885 Source: Kansas State Historical Society
Pickrell Buiding 1885 Source: US National Historical Registry
Pickrell Buiding 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 scott@plaza1907.com
Come by and visit with Peggy Armstrong Resident Historian & Tour Guide & Manager