KCRag Forum

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:23 am**

Historic North Kansas City theatre building to be sold

Local movie theater owner Butch Rigby plans to purchase the historic Armour Theatre Building in North Kansas City.

Under an agreement approved by the North Kansas City Council, Rigby will buy the single-screen theater at 408 Armour Road and adjacent two-story properties, which are part of the theater building, for $600,000.

Rigby, operator of the Screenland Crossroads Theatre at 17th and Washington streets and owner of the Screenland Granada in Kansas City, Kan., said Wednesday that he would restore the building, which the city has owned since 2005.

He said he plans to operate a business “very similar” to the other Screenland theaters.

The development agreement calls for Rigby to receive Chapter 353 tax abatements over a 10-year period to help pay for the restoration. In order to receive such tax abatements, the North Kansas City Council would have to declare the theater property blighted and schedule a public hearing.

i say country music does indeed create blight.

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:55 am**

Great news! I love Rigby!

Country music is the product of the devil.

Posted: **Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:35 pm**

I Was drunk, the day my ma got out of prison,
and I went to pick her up in the rain,
But before I could get to the station in my pick-up truck...

Sportster
...spawn of satan

Posted: **Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:45 pm**

This is wonderful news. I love North Kansas City and this will only enhance the place. Good for Butch Rigby!

Posted: **Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:32 am**

Yes, good news indeed.

Perhaps a Screenland Grand Opera House?

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:22 pm**

Do you think he's really making money at these places, or is it more of a hobby thing? I've only been to Screenland twice (and will be checking out Big Lebowski w/ white Russians served from the full bar Friday night with some friends making it three times) but it was dead empty both times. I was half expecting it to close, and here he's opening another place...

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2007 4:39 pm**

Gretz wrote: Do you think he's really making money at these places, or is it more of a hobby thing? I've only been to Screenland twice (and will be checking out Big Lebowski w/ white Russians served from the full bar Friday night with some friends making it three times) but it was dead empty both times. I was half expecting it to close, and here he's opening another place...

if i had to guess, he was probably breaking even until his property taxes skyrocketed. i'm sure he sold the building (only to lease it back) to raise capital to do this NKC project. if i'm not mistaken, though, he owns other crossroads properties (black bamboo, for example) which are probably making money.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2007 5:43 pm**

I went by there today. The marquee is gone from the building.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:04 pm**

If I understand correctly, the new marquee is supposed to resemble the orginal. I recall the marquee from the 1960s but don't know if it was original or something installed later. The theater was cleaned up and the marquee repainted to say "Centre" however it was merely the "Armour" marquee with fresh paint. I remember going to movies there. It was quite nice. Nothing so elegant as the downtown theaters (Midland, Empire, Roxy, etc.) but quite suitable for NKC (kept clean & well maintained; customers always polite).

Hope this venture is successful. I've been to Screenland and it is well-run.

Posted: **Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:39 pm**

If Butch Rigby is involved in renovating this theater, it will be done well. I doubt he makes any money with Screenland, and it's just a hobby. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he made more money renting out space to groups than from screening films.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:48 am**

Gretz wrote: Do you think he's really making money at these places, or is it more of a hobby thing? I've only been to Screenland twice (and will be checking out Big Lebowski w/ white Russians served from the full bar Friday night with some friends making it three times) but it was dead empty both times. I was half expecting it to close, and here he's opening another place...

Holy crap! I didn't know about this. I just may see you out there tomorrow.

http://www.screenland.com/theatre/lebowski.html

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 11:29 am**

DaveKCMO wrote:
i say country music does indeed create blight.

'splain Branson then Lucy.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 1:28 pm**

FangKC wrote: If Butch Rigby is involved in renovating this theater, it will be done well. I doubt he makes any money with Screenland, and it's just a hobby. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he made more money renting out space to groups than from screening films.

Every time I've gone to the one on Broadway it's been a decent crowd. (I've been probably 15 times)

The one in KCK had abysmal attendance the one time I went, which I'm guessing is why he made that strictly a special event theatre.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:56 pm**

KCMax wrote: Holy crap! I didn't know about this. I just may see you out there tomorrow.

http://www.screenland.com/theatre/lebowski.html

Every last Friday they show it. Bring it on out...

Rusty wrote: Every time I've gone to the one on Broadway it's been a decent crowd. (I've been probably 15 times)

The one in KCK had abysmal attendance the one time I went, which I'm guessing is why he made that strictly a special event theatre.

Maybe I've just had bad luck then, and they actually have better attendance than I witnessed. I hope so. It would be great if they started doing weekday showings; I almost never go to movies on weekends. Even just that one screen running consistently could increase the entire metro's art-house screens in action, and thus the selection, significantly. Are there really any indie/art-house places around besides the Tivoli and the Rio or whatever it is on Metcalf?

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:10 pm**

there are four "indie" theaters: tivoli (3 screens), glenwood arts (3 screens), rio (1 screen), and screenland crossroads (1 screen). this will give those north of the river a closer option.

on a side note, tivoli really needs to hand over the reigns to the landmark chain since they obviously can't afford to remodel they way they operate today. i love their selections, but it's starting to stink in there.

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:17 pm**

I wasn't aware of Glenwood Arts. Where are they? Do they have a lineup similar to Tivoli, only at another location or do the show different stuff. I love Rio's international tilt and visit it sometimes with Indian and Afghan coworkers or Francophone friends. Agreed on both your Tivoli comments...

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:06 pm**

Gretz wrote: I wasn't aware of Glenwood Arts. Where are they? Do they have a lineup similar to Tivoli, only at another location or do the show different stuff. I love Rio's international tilt and visit it sometimes with Indian and Afghan coworkers or Francophone friends. Agreed on both your Tivoli comments...

glenwood info: http://www.fineartsgroup.com/

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:13 pm**

Is the Screenland Granada considered an "indie" theater?

Posted: **Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:47 pm**

FangKC wrote: Is the Screenland Granada considered an "indie" theater?

um, there's exactly one showing this month: a sing-a-long with Grease. i guess it is technically independent, but it's definitely not a dedicated art house theater like the others.

Posted: **Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:52 am**

What would Cathy Rigby do?

KCRag Forum

Armour Theater

Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater

Re: Armour Theater