![]() Goodland Explorations
Learn more about Goodland by following the links below:
Treasures of The Sherman Theatre unmaskedAddress:
1203 Main Street
About this Exploration: ![]() The original Sherman Theatre opened August 2, 1926, as a silent film/vaudeville theatre. The walls were painted with woodland scenes as befitted a movie palace.
A January 21, 1928, fire destroyed the building's stage end on the east wall. The wall and roof collapsed into the alley. Even though it was quickly brought under control, the fire damage was extensive. The heating system was blamed for the fire.
The owner, Ernest E. Sprague, decided to rebuild the theatre and make it even more spectacular. The woodland scenes were replaced by twin peacocks and roses, illuminated by wall sconces.
![]() As part of a 1968 remodel, the sconces were removed. The theatre installed Soundfold fabric over the walls in 1969 or 1970.
The art was not seen again until 2013 when Owner David Branda decided to find the auditorium's original wiring and replace the original sconces. He had read about the 1928 repairs in the newspaper accounts. "I assumed they were still there, but did not know the size, design or exact locations. It was when I was removing the Celotex (around the middle of January) trying to find the wiring that I uncovered part of a peacock's tail. That is when the fun began," he said. When the Soundfolds and Celotex were peeled away, the peacocks were revealed. The metal-colored strips behind the new sconces is in homage to the theatre's original tin ceiling.
![]() That mural also disappeared beneath the Celotex. The frame remained uncovered but Celotex filled the interior. Laurie Albin of WaKeeney restored the painting in 2008. She filled in nail holes and "brightened up" the painting's colors. She added highlights and gold leaf to the frame. Branda met Albin when she was painting "Bygone Days on the Bricks".
See the theatre's website for movie start times, usually at 7 Mountain Time, and come early to see the paintings. Stop at the concession stand first for reasonably priced snacks and use the coupon for more savings. Gift certificates are also available at concession stand.
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![]() Donna Price
925 Main
Goodland, KS 67735 Phone: 785.890.3515 Fax: 785.890.6980 ![]() |