Please remember that for ALL movies, no matter the rating, patrons must be 16+ in order to enter without an adult. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a board member for more information.
ENTERTAINING AUDIENCES SINCE 1949
The original theater, The Main Street Theater, opened in 1923, was renovated in 1935 and was renamed the Dream Theatre. In 1947, the 590 seat capacity theater was destroyed by fire. The Dream Theatre is an Art Deco style one screen movie theater that opened on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1949 with a 425 seat capacity. The theater was designed by architects Robert Otto Boller and Dietz Lusk, Jr. The Boller Bros. architectural firm based in Kansas City, Missouri designed about 100 theaters throughout the Midwest of the United States during the first half of the 20th century. Twenty of the Boller Bros. theaters are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Dream Theatre is one of nine in Kansas with this designation.
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The Dream Theatre was closed by B & B Theatres in 2000. The "Keep the Dream Alive" Committee was formed and paid $6,000 in back taxes and raised $20,000 to reopen the theater. The ten member Board of Directors and single Movie Coordinator oversee the day to day operations of the theater with the help of community volunteers that staff the theater Friday through Sunday nights.
Our Board of Directors include, Lisa Anstaett-President, Damian Morgenstern-Vice President, Tammy Mitchell-Treasurer, Andrea Garland-Secretary, David Munday (Congratulate him on 25 years at the Dream when you see him), Ron Brown, Keith Haberer, Lisa Hunter, Shawnna Dick, and Paige Schreiner. Our Movie Coordinator is Alyssa Hunter. Our Board of Directors works very hard to make sure you can get the movies you want to see, we take requests on our website under contact, as well as suggestions for new snacks and ways to make your experience even better at the theater.
A Blurb from The Original Dream Theatre Souvenir Program
Did you know?
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In 1947, the Dream Theatre was the ONLY fireproof building in Russell, and not only in Russell, but in Kansas overall??
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Cool, right?
Did you know?
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The first movie to play in the Dream Theatre after the rebuild was April 19, 1949 was 'My Dream is Yours', distributed by Warner Bros.
Donated by Sue Bartholomew:
'Presenting the New Dream Theater, April 1949, Souvenir Program'
Our Responsibility: (From the original Souvenir Program from 1949)
From the ashes and rubble of the old, there is built in Russell a quite considerable theatre. As you view it we hope you will feel justly proud that such an edifice as this will be available to you always.
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There have been many hours of planning and many headaches, since a fire gutted theatre, started rebuilding in November '47. But in general, the building of this new style theatre, has been a pleasant task. No effort, or expense has been spared to make the New Dream a theatre among theatres, standing proudly with the worlds best show houses.
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It is our aim and hope to foresee your theatre wants and wishes, to give you the kind of program you demand, with the object always to entertain. Due to the cooperation of various organizations, and concentrated mass production of motion pictures, it is possible to keep the cost to the public within reach of all, thereby making it the universal source of entertainment.
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It is the desire of the management, that you think of the New Dream, not as a business, but as an institution. A heritage from the past, a monument to the present, and a legacy to posterity. It is your theatre, the building of which you have made possible by your continued patronage of the past.
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The management deems it a privilege, to lay down the "Welcome Mat" to you, your friends, and their friends, every day of the year, and of the years to come.
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VIVA LA DREAM
Twenty years ago, at the time the present ownership purchased the old Mainstreet Theatre, it was discovered that a grave obligation and responsibility to the community had been assumed.
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Our major function and basic principle is to entertain and our policy is to bring friends the best in motion pictures. We want you to think of the Dream as a community center, interested in community activities and always ready to cooperate.
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You, our audience, are the basis for our existence, and the motive for continuation.
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