Northrup Theater

Northrup Theater
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	116 N. Main St., Syracuse, Kansas
Coordinates	37°59′3″N 101°45′8″W / 37.98417°N 101.75222°WCoordinates: 37°59′3″N 101°45′8″W / 37.98417°N 101.75222°W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1930
Architectural style	Mission/spanish Revival
MPS	Theaters and Opera Houses of Kansas MPS
NRHP Reference #	05000008[1]
Added to NRHP	February 9, 2005

The Northrup Theater was built in Syracuse, Kansas in 1930 by local businessman Frank F. Northrup. At the time of its construction it was billed as the largest movie theater in western Kansas. The theater continues to show movies, and is owned by the Syracuse/Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.

Description

The Northrup Theater is a 2-1/2 story masonry building. The original structure is styled as an adaptation of the Mission Revival style, with Moderne elements added in a 1948 renovation. The main facade facing Main Street uses textured blond brick, capped by a stepped parapet and embellished with terra cotta detailing. The parapet conceals the theater's bowstring truss roof system. The theater's main entrance is flanked by two storefronts. A curved glass block ticket booth stands in the recessed theater entrance, under a metal marquee. A large vertical sign is placed directly above the marquee, with NORTHRUP on either side.^[2]

The structure is brick and hollow clay tile with a steel truss roof, on a concrete foundation. The side walls are party walls with the adjoining buildings. The rear elevation is a plain brick wall with a large opening for the theater's original evaporative cooling system.^[2]

The Northrup Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 9, 2005.^[1]

References

1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. Ottesen, Kristen; Rosin, Elizabeth (June 2004). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Northrup Theater" (PDF). National Park Service.