Kansas City has been involved in the moviemaking and theatre industry since films evolved from lowbrow novelties to influential art that captivated audiences.

In the early 20th century, movies dominated Kansas City’s commercial amusement landscape. More than 170 theaters opened in Kansas City before 1950, with 166 dedicated to movies. In 1915 alone, the city boasted approximately 90 theaters — all but one exclusively screening films.

A reader asked KCQ what was the first movie shown in Kansas City, and what were some of the first movie theaters? 

When movies were first made and shown in Kansas City, they were curious phenomena and not the cultural staples they would become. Since its first screenings in the 19th century, Kansas City has shaped what moviemaking and movie-going would mean for its community and beyond.

In the spring of 1897, audiences at the Coates Opera House downtown witnessed the first movies shown in Kansas City. The Coates screened three back-to-back films, typical of early cinema, each under a minute long and depicting real-life scenes and events with no plot.

Read the rest of the story at KCHistory.org.