Touring the Ritz, a 100 year old movie theater (ROUTE 66)

I tour the Ritz, a 100 year old movie theater on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The building was built in the 1860s when it was a mercantile. From 1921 to 1956 it was the Ritz Theater. From 1957 to 1980 it was a restaurant and then a flower shop. The owner purchased the building in 2006 and lovingly restored the theater to its 1956 appearance. Many original artifacts from its theater career were stored upstairs, and helped purchase additional materials to match. Closed since March 2020, I caught Ron preparing to reopen the theater post pandemic. This video also discusses what it was like to go to the movies 100 years ago when the Ritz opened, from musicians playing music and furnishing sound effects live, to the use of actual film (as opposed to digital), as well as how having a nitrate movie stored pretty much anywhere could lead to a massive fire.

Please watch the video to the end and subscribe to my channel and turn on notifications so you don’t miss any historical adventures. Like, comment, and all that internet stuff that helps keep the lights on. And if you are traveling Route 66 in Kansas, please stop in and say hello to Ron, and catch a movie in this 100 year old gem.

#route66 #movie #theaters