The Metcalf South of Old
Was a time Overland Park’s Glenwood Theatre was Kansas City’s grandest movie theater…
A long time actually, because for or34 years until it’s closing in 2001 the Glenwood was hailed by many as Kansas City’s finest. Originally a one holer with a massive for the time 70 foot wide by 35 foot tall screen, it accommodated more than 800 patrons in luxurious style with plush seats and a luxurious lobby.
When the Glenwood went away in 2001 local movie mogul Wade Williams bought it’s historic art deco marquee and teamed with the Fine Arts Theatre Group to keep the Glenwood name alive by reopening a shuttered theater as the Glenwood Arts in Metcalf South Shopping Center .
And to this day, the Glenwood Arts – now a three holer – showcases mostly art films and commercial movies with artistic sensibilities. Movies like the ones playing currently, “Big Eyes,” “Wild” and “The Theory of Everything.”
And until recently, operators of the Glenwood Arts had hoped to continue to operate the Glenwood Arts with the hope of fitting into developer Lane4‘s renovation of the now closed mall.
Fat chance.
And now that the official word is Metcalf South is to be razed, an entirely new movieplex would have to be built and outfitted at great expense for the Glenwood Arts to carry on.
Not gonna happen.
The Metcalfe South of Old
The Fine Arts dudes are notorious for buying distressed properties on the cheap and taking forever bring them back to life by doing much of the work themselves. That’s obviously not the way Lane4 is gong to work with a ground up redesign.
“I can’t see the Fine Arts doing that,” says a movie insider who asked not to be named. “I think they’ll just say, ‘Fuck it!’ and move the art movies to The Leawood.”
Just last week Lane4 told the Overland Park city council that while there were talks about landing a movie theater the Glenwood Arts was o-u-t.
The Fine Arts group operates the former Ranch Mart Theatre in a basement at 95th and Nall.
“Right now they’re playing primarily commercial movies there,” says the source. “They’re playing day-and-date with AMC’s Ward Parkway Theatres. But once the renovation of Ward Parkway was completed three years back, The Leawood’s box office went down significantly. So I think when they close the Glenwood, they’ll just convert The Leawood to a full time arts theater.”
As for Lane4 landing a movie tenant, do the words “snowball’s chance in hell” ring any bells? Because that’s about the best shot Lane4 have of landing a theater.
AMC Ward Parkway is only 2.4 miles with AMC’s Town Center is 3.4 miles away.
“Nobody’s going to go in there,” the source says. “I can’t see anybody opening a movie theater in that area.”
The $64 million question: What will become of Williams’ Glenwood sign?
The Fine Arts group already lost a battle to place a marquee at Ranch Mart -Leawood pols are pretty picky when it comes to dialing the vanilla out of the suburbs.
Williams could not be reached for comment, but stay tuned.
I have mixed feelings about that theater. It does often show quality films but it is always a jarring experience walking in. You enter through what feels like the basement of a mall and you walk in to what is supposed to look like a movie palace.
Well, it’s actually on like the third level of Metcalfe South, I think.
So the fact that you feel like you’re in a basement says a lot.
And where the mighty Glenwood was an esteemed movie theater (me I always thought it was a bit overwrought and they did such a huge business they never popped the popcorn fresh, they brought it in in giant plastic bags), the Metcalfe was just a shrimp cocktail. Nobody EVER raved about what a great theater it was, so affixing the Glenwood name and marquee to it was really kind of a joke.
Williams need a place to park that giant sign.
Now he’s going to have to shoehorn it into his barn or garage because the zoning dudes in Leawood wouldn’t let him put it up there if he had it gold plated.
I guess I could make a similar criticism about The Tivoli. It is also in a weird space in a nondescript building. Odd choice for an art film theater. Anyway, Glenwood always seemed like a place I should support but I just have never been emotionally attached to it. I love The Tivoli (despite it’s aesthetic flaws) and the Alamo Drafthouse (despite it’s numerous stumbles in KC) because both theaters seem tapped into film culture. Glenwood just never really made me think, “This is run by people who love movies.”
The difference between the Tivoli in Manor Square and the Glenwood Arts going into a brand new state of the art building is huge.
Jerry Harrington was able to get a deal on an abandoned theater in the very troubled mall. A theater that all things considered wasn’t that old and above and beyond what his wallet would have been able to afford otherwise.
Similarly the Fine Arts guys were able to steal the old Metcalfe at Metcalfe South because it was closed, but it was 20 years older or more than the theater in Manor Square
well, I grew up in the area and remember the Glenwood Theater and motor hotel and all that. back then, the sign fit with the times and was a key Overland Park landmark. kinda like the White Haven sign.
I first applauded the fact that the sign was given new life a few blocks away. but every time I drive by it now, it just looks like an eyesore, actually drawing attention to how bleak Metcalf South looks.
It may be too bad the Fine Arts group loses the theater, but it’s long past time for the sign to go anyway. out with old, in with the new as they say.
(and if I were on the Leawood zoning committee, I wouldn’t want it at Ranchmart either. that whole development looks crowded and ugly enough.)
regnier did a nice jobat ranch mart.
the sign isoutdated…put it for sale at boulevard drivein.
Williams has a classic collection of sci fi movies maybe worth millions
so he could do something with a new theatre.
whatever the case….is theatres areheaded tobeing dinosaurs.
once the studios discover the extra billions they can keep by going
straight to video or on demand…we’ll see the end of theatres.
its going to happen!!!!!!!
brick and mortar with go bye bye.
an then they can choose where to put their alternative movie theatres
for free.
The Glenwood Theater sign was never “Art Deco.” It’s neither in that particular style or from that time period. It is, however, Mid-Century Modern and in that sense, it’s classic.
Thanks, Chucky
I remember lining up around the building at the Glenwood to see Star Wars and Close Encounters when I was a kid. Hell, we actually lived in the motel in early 1972 for a short while as we waited for our new house to be ready. Those huge theaters were the best.
And Mike T is right, the sign, as classic as it is, does seem to be a bit of an eye sore these days.
Newsflash, Hearne: The Leawood theatre is in Overland Park.
What is really going to change the entertainment business and kill off theaters are companies like Oculus Rift.