History of the Anthony Theatre

Anthony Theatre Held Opening in 1936

On November 23, 1936, the Anthony Theatre, under the ownership of Mr. And Mrs. Floyd Droz and Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Barron of Pratt, held its grand opening with a throng attending. Mr. and Mrs. Droz came to Anthony from Shattuck, OK early in the spring of 1935, after purchasing the Novelty Theatre from J. M. Hobbs. After operating the Novelty Theatre in Anthony, KS for almost a year and a half, the Drozes together with Mr. and Mrs. Barron erected the Anthony Theatre building. With the completion of the Anthony Theatre the city acquired one of the finest and most modern motion picture houses in the Midwest.

For several years, the Anthony Theatre has sat empty, its Art Deco style facade discolored by time. Its doors are closed and the elegant red and white marquee, which once stood aglow with neon lighting as people lined up beneath it, now hangs dark; its neon tubes in need of repair and/or replacement. Many have wished that it could be reopened to give our children a place to go; to be used for community theatre, concerts, or film festivals.

The Harper County Preservation and Tourism Alliance (HCPTA) has made it a goal to restore the historic Anthony Theatre to its once proud and beautiful state.  In conjunction with the HCPTA, a number of businesses and community members have joined in the effort to make the purchasing and renovation of the Anthony Theatre a possibility.

The Anthony Theatre is located at 220 West Main Street, Anthony, KS 67003. View pictures of buildings near the theatre.

"The Anthony Theatre is indeed a remarkably sound structure, relatively easily restored, and historically significant enough to warrant every effort to renovate it to its former function and beauty." - Paul Cavanaugh, architect, April 2008.