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Good morning, Wichita!

I wish Monday’s TBT game had ended differently in a few different ways, but it was very fun to see Koch Arena nearly full again, especially in the summer.

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

p.s. Music Theatre Wichita kicks off Fiddler on the Roof tonight! This is a Broadway quality show right here in Wichita.

Together with Rhea Lana’s of Wichita

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Shop early (as early as Friday 8/7) with Platinum, Gold, Silver, or free Mom-to-Be passes—available now!

Score high-quality kids’ items at a fraction of retail prices. Passes and full schedule here!

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Crown Uptown: The Past & The Future

The future of the Crown Uptown is once again uncertain after another demolition application was filed for the nearly century-old theater (it really is so, so close to hitting 100 years old).

If you've followed the story over the past two years, you've probably heard about occupancy limits, neighborhood concerns, City Council votes and historic preservation efforts. You may have even picked a side.

But before diving into today's controversy, I wanted to take a step back and take a look at the 98 years of history.

Before It Was the Crown

Picture Wichita in 1928. The Ford Model A had replaced the old Model T. The city had just crossed 100,000 residents. Aviation was beginning to put Wichita on the national map. Douglas Avenue was one of the city's busiest commercial corridors.

And going to the movies wasn't something you did because you were bored.

It was an event.

Movie palaces were popping up across America, each trying to outdo the next with grand architecture, ornate lobbies and unforgettable experiences. Wichita wanted one too.

On July 16, 1928, the Uptown Theatre opened its doors, showing The Jazz Singer, one of the first feature films with synchronized sound. The theater was designed by the famed Boller Brothers, a Kansas City architectural firm responsible for more than 100 theaters across the Midwest.

But this wasn't just another neighborhood movie theater.

The Uptown was built as an atmospheric theater, one of the most popular architectural styles of the era. Instead of sitting inside a traditional auditorium, audiences were meant to feel like they were outdoors beneath a twilight sky. Decorative balconies lined the walls. Ornate plaster surrounded the stage. The architecture itself became part of the entertainment.

For many Wichitans, it must have felt like stepping into another world.

A Theater That Never Stopped Changing

Many historic buildings survive because they stop changing.

The Crown survived because it never did. Its first life was as one of Wichita's premier movie palaces.

Then, in 1961, it reinvented itself as the New Uptown Theatre, becoming one of the few theaters in Kansas equipped for Cinerama, a revolutionary widescreen movie experience decades before IMAX. A massive curved screen gave audiences a level of immersion that was almost unheard of at the time.

As moviegoing habits changed, the building adapted again.

In 1977, it reopened as the Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre, beginning the chapter most Wichitans remember best.

For nearly five decades, the Crown became home to Broadway-style productions, concerts, fundraisers, weddings, comedy shows, holiday performances, nonprofit galas and countless first dates.

Is It Historic... or Just Old?

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Crown is whether it's truly historic or simply old. Those aren't necessarily the same thing.

Historic designation considers much more than age. Factors like architectural significance, cultural impact, historical associations and community importance all play a role.

The Crown has a strong case. It was designed by the nationally recognized Boller Brothers, is one of the few surviving atmospheric theaters in Kansas and has entertained generations of Wichitans through movies, dinner theater, concerts, weddings and community events.

Yet despite that history, it isn't listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Kansas Register or Wichita's own Register of Historic Places.

I assumed a nearly 100 year old Theatre kinda automatically makes the list. Like if you’ve been living together for 10 years, you’re kinda automatically considered married (I don’t know the actual law, but I think it is something like this).

How Old Is the Crown Compared to Wichita's Historic Landmarks?

At 98 years old, the Crown isn't Wichita's oldest surviving building.

But it is older than several buildings that already have formal historic protection.

Looking at that list, it's easy to assume the Crown would already be protected, butttt it isn't.

So Why Isn't It Protected?

Well, for nearly 100 years, no one pursued local historic designation for the Crown. That only changed after demolition became a possibility.

After owner Mike Brown filed his first demolition application in early 2025, Wichita began the process of considering the Crown for the city's Register of Historic Places. The Historic Preservation Board voted that the theater met Wichita's criteria for designation, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission (MAPC) agreed.

But when the nomination reached the City Council on July 15, 2025, it failed on a 3-3 vote. Because local designation required five affirmative votes, the Crown was never added to Wichita's Register of Historic Places.

Interestingly, the debate wasn't really about whether the building was historically significant.

Even several councilmembers who voted against designation said they didn't want to see the theater demolished. Their concern centered on whether the city should place permanent historic restrictions on a private property owner who opposed the designation.

It's also worth noting that historic designation wouldn't have guaranteed the building's survival. It would have added additional review and protections, but demolition can still occur through the city's established process.

How We Got Here

The current controversy really began in 2023, when Oklahoma businessman Mike Brown purchased the Crown Uptown.

Brown said his goal wasn't simply to continue operating the theater as it had been. He wanted to attract larger concerts and events that, in his view, required more people than the building's current occupancy allowed.

At the time, the theater was limited to 850 occupants and Brown proposed increasing that to as many as 2,066 people, depending on the event setup and compliance with building and fire codes.

From his perspective, the math simply didn't work.

Historic buildings are expensive to maintain. The artist performing on stage costs roughly the same whether 800 people buy tickets or 2,000.

Neighborhood residents argued that more than doubling attendance would overwhelm surrounding streets with parking, traffic and congestion while changing the character of College Hill.

The debate quickly became one of the most closely watched zoning discussions in Wichita. After reviewing the proposal, the Metropolitan Area Planning Commission recommended approval, but in February 2025, the Wichita City Council unanimously rejected the requested occupancy increase.

Within days, Brown filed a demolition application, saying the building could no longer be operated as he had envisioned under the existing restrictions.

What Were Neighbors Actually Concerned About?

One thing I found especially interesting came from Wichita Documenters (shoutout - they do a great job), a nonprofit that records and summarizes public meetings.

Looking at transcripts from the public hearings, one concern stood far above the rest. Parking.

The word appeared 167 times during discussions surrounding the Crown.

That doesn't necessarily mean everyone opposed the theater itself.

If anything, it suggests many neighbors wanted to preserve the Crown while questioning whether the surrounding neighborhood could realistically absorb twice as many visitors.

Timeline: How We Got Here

More Than Just a Building

Whether the Crown ultimately survives or not, I learned a lot diving into the history of the building.

It's easy to see an old marquee and think of it as just another aging building. But over nearly a century, the Crown has continually reinvented itself.

It is a place that nearly every generation has experienced the building differently whether that is a show or other event.

That's what makes the Crown significant. Not simply because it's approaching 100 years old. Because for almost a century, it has found new ways to bring Wichitans together.

Whether its next chapter is another reinvention or its final curtain is a question that remains unanswered.

To be clear, just because a demo permit was applied for, doesn’t mean it will go through for sure.

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!