Springfield Paranormal Research Group
Landers Theater History !
When the Baldwin Theatre burned down in 1909 the construction of the
Landers Theatre, already begun, was greatly accelerated. The new Landers
Theatre at 311 East Walnut opened on September 18, 1890, with a
production called “Golden Girl.” The total capacity of the theater was 824.
The theater was the dream of John Landers, a newcomer to Springfield with
a lumber business. He was joined in the venture by his son Douglas J. Landers,
R.N. Stewart, E.E.R. McJimsen and George Olendorf. The design of the theater
is very ornate, reflecting the influences of Napoleon III’s baroque and
Renaissance architecture. The four-story building even has some architectural
features that look like screaming devils. It had the second largest stage in the state.
The Landers Theatre was part of the Orpheum circuit of theaters, showing
vaudeville and “tab” or tabloid shows with a different show each week. The
Weaver Brothers and Elviry were regulars at the Landers, before they went on
to make movies. Some other famous performers who appeared there were
George Cohan, Lon Chaney, John Philip Sousa and Lillian Russell. In 1915
“Birth of Nation” was shown in the theater and afterward silent movies were
a regular feature with musical or drama productions playing between the
motion pictures. In 1927 the Landers became the 35th theater in the United
States to show “talkies,” showing Al Jolson in “The Jazz Singer.”
On December 17, 1920, the Landers suffered a major fire. An asbestos curtain
and other fireproofing precautions kept the theater from being a total loss. The
theater was rebuilt in 1922 by Ensley Barbour. In 1927 radio station WIBM
broadcasted from the Landers until it was moved to the Kentwood Arms.
Continuously through the 1960s, the Landers Theatre was a motion picture
theater. Since it never sat vacant, there was surprisingly little renovation that
needed to be done when the Springfield Little Theatre purchased the building in
1970. Through grants and fundraising, money was raised to remodel the
building in the early1970s. The first Little Theatre production shown at the
Landers was “The Importance of Being Earnest.” In 1980 the Little Theatre
expanded the lobby eastward, added a refreshment bar, handicap ramp
and a restroom on the main floor. The original open cage from the elevator was
used over the refreshment bar. It is said that the Landers is haunted by not one
but three ghosts -- a tall man in Elizabethan clothing and a mother and child. A
green phosphorescent haze in the balcony has also been reported.
The Little Theatre currently maintains its home in the Landers Theatre and
has recently added a Walk of Fame in front of the theater. Honorees have stars
with their names on them displayed in front of the building. In 1996 the
Landers was featured in Southern Living magazine and in 2001 the Landers
Theatre was awarded the McReynolds Award for Historic Preservation.
In 1977, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in the
1980s the theatre underwent major renovations to return it to its early 1900s
elegance. Today the theatre continues to entertain southwest Missouri
with plays, musicals, ballet, symphony and more.But in addition to its many
visitors who come for the entertainment, this old “playhouse” is also called
home to several restless spirits.
|
|