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Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Page

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These photographs document the Columbian Theater in Wamego, Kansas, and its renovation. Wamego banker J. C. Rogers built the theater and used it to celebrate and document the Chicago World's Fair, otherwise known as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The music hall hosted vaudeville, drama, masque balls, concerts, community events and eventually motion pictures. The theater closed in 1950 and the renovation effort began in 1989. The publication of these photos was funded in party by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission through the Kansas State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Date: 1893-1995


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Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-basement: View of basement area, east to west. Shows a man at the west end, support columns at right. Looking east to west. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-basement: View of basement area, east to west. Shows a man at the west end, support columns at right. Looking east to west. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of theatre area during renovation, looking west to east. Shows Scaffold, center, ladder and table saw, left. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of theatre area during renovation, looking west to east. Shows Scaffold, center, ladder and table saw, left. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of north wall of theatre area showing north exit door, lighting kiosk above, and wall prep for hanging restored mural, right. Looking north east across theatre area. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of north wall of theatre area showing north exit door, lighting kiosk above, and wall prep for hanging restored mural, right. Looking north east across theatre area. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of NW corner of theatre lobby space showing center entrance into theatre, sound booth above north side entrance into theatre space. Looking from center east lobby toward theatre. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of NW corner of theatre lobby space showing center entrance into theatre, sound booth above north side entrance into theatre space. Looking from center east lobby toward theatre. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of SW corner of theatre lobby space showing south side entrance and center entrance into theater. Paint buckets and other tools can be seen on floor, center. Looking center lobby toward theatre. July 1994. Photo by Richard BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of SW corner of theatre lobby space showing south side entrance and center entrance into theater. Paint buckets and other tools can be seen on floor, center. Looking center lobby toward theatre. July 1994. Photo by Richard BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of initial pulley system for stage drapery, north wall of stage area. Looking center stage north. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. BarkerColumbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-theatre: View of initial pulley system for stage drapery, north wall of stage area. Looking center stage north. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. Barker

Columbian Theater, Wamego, Kansas - Renovation-basement: View of basement area, east to west. Shows a man at the west end, support columns at right. Looking east to west. July 1994. Photo by Richard V. Barker

Item Number: 448218
Call Number: Wamego Pulbic Library, Columbian Theater Collection
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 448218

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