The Plaza Grill and Cinema


Plaza 1907 is located in Ottawa, Kansas, United States and has been named the "oldest purpose-built cinema in operation in the world", having applied to Guinness World Records in June 2017 and beaten out a theatre in Denmark by two days.
The theatre is part of the Downtown Ottawa Historic District, which was listed June 29, 1972.

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.
The historical evidence and sources proving the history of the cinema are:
Kansas State Historical SocietyPickrell Building 1885
US National Historical RegistryPickrell Building 1885
Copy of United States Department of Interior ApprovalPickrell Building 1885
1905 Annuls of Ottawa ArticleMovie Theatre mention upstairs at 213 S. Main moving quickly to 211 S. Main
1907 Ottawa Kansas City Directorypg 36E.E. Wagner, Mngr. 211 S. Main
1910 Ottawa City Directorypg 58Crystal Theatre C.J. Clark Propr. 211 S. Main
1913 Ottawa City DirectoryCrystal Theatre 211 S. Main
1916 Ottawa City Directory211 S. Main Propr. W.A. Millington
1917 Crystal Theatre FireOttawa Herald Story- March 1, 1917
1917 Ottawa Herald Article“Washburn & Son are drawing plans for remodeling After fire”
1921 Ottawa City Directory211 South Main Mgr W.A. Millington
1922 Ottawa City DirectoryCrystal Theatre 209 S. Main Mgr. G.E. Klock
1926 Ottawa Herald AdFor Movies Playing at Crystal
1926 Ottawa Herald AdFor Movies Playing at Crystal, Ottawa Tele Directory
1929 Ottawa Herald AdFirst Talkie Movies at Crystal
1930 Newspaper StoryFox Midwest purchased the Crystal and remodeled
1934 City Building Permit“Plaza” 209 South Main permit for bathroom fixtures
1934 Newspaper StoryFront Page “Reconstruction of Crystal is announced by E.D Dorrel Mgr Fox Theatres
1935 Newspaper StoryFebruary Grand Opening of remodeled Plaza
1935 City Directorypg 226Plaza Theatre North Main
1938 City Directorypg 213209 South Main
1941 City Directorypg 202Plaza Theatre 209 South Main
1946 City Directorypg 231Plaza Theatre 209 South Main
1950 City Directorypg 239Plaza Theatre 209 South Main
1953 City Directorypg 218Plaza Theatre 209 South Main
1955 City Directorypg 232Plaza 209 South Main
1957 City Directorypg 141Plaza Theatre Eugene Sappington Manager 209 South Main
1959 City Directorypg 112Plaza Theatre Eugene Sappinton 209 South Main
1961 City Directorypg 156Plaza Theatre Chester A Hylton mgr 209 South
1962 City Directorypg 125Plaza Theatre Chester A Hylton mgr 209 South
1964 City Directorypg 128Plaza Theatre Leon Roberston Mgr 209 South
1965 City Directorypg 113Plaza Theatre Leon Robertson Mgr 209 South
1966 City Directorypg 104Plaza Theatre Leon Roberson Mgr 209 South
1967 City Directorypg 110Plaza Theatre Frank Banning Mgr 209 south
1969 City Directorypg 116Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews Jr. 209 South
1970 City Directorypg 103Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews Jr. 209 South
1971 City Directorypg 104Plaza Theatre Joseph Matthews JR 209 South
1972 City Directorypg 105Plaza Theatre Francis Glenn Mgr 209 South Main
1973 City Directorypg 107Plaza Theatre Robert Clark Mgr. 209 South Main
1974 City Directorypg 120Plaza Theatre Jerry Mason Mgr. 209 South Main
1975 City Directorypg 113Plaza Theatre Jerry Mason Mgr. 209 South Main
1976 City Directorypg 122Plaza Theatre Wayne Zarachary Mgr 209 South
1977 City Directorypg 130Plaza Theatre Wayne Zacachary Mgr 209 South
1979 City Directorypg 133Plaza Theatre Joe Matthews JR Mgr 209 South
1980 City Directorypg 137Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main
1981 City Directorypg 136Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main
1982 City Directorypg 132Plaza Theatre Daniel Cope Mgr. 209 South Main
1983 City Directorypg 133Plaza Theatre Danel Cope Mgr.209 South Main
1984 City Directorypg 142Plaza Theatre Daniel H. Cope Mgr 209 South Ma
1985 City Directorypg 149Plaza Theatre Linda Wrisner Mgr 209 south Main
1986 City Directorypg 142Plaza Theatre Scott Maples Mgr. 209 south Main
1987 City Directorypg 142Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1988 City Directorypg 141Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1989 City Directorypg 151Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1990 City Directorypg 148Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1991 City Directorypg 151Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1992 City Directorypg 38Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1993 City Directorypg 40Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1994 City Directorypg 46Plaza Theatre Steven and Mrs Lee Ann Bagby
1999 City Directorypg 44Plaza Theatre Steven Bagby 209 South Main

The owners after 2000 were:
2000 - 2005Richard Dimoush
2005 - 2014Ted & Rita Madl
2014–presentScott Zaremba