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spectacular wood and plaster work.
The Midland closed in 1961, and then after some remodeling,
it briefly reopened as an arena that served as the home for
professional bowling team, the Kansas City Stars. The Stars
were financially unsuccessful, and they left the Midland the
same year. AMC Theatres (then a small KC-area regional chain)
purchased the Midland in 1966, and the theatre continued to
operate as a movie house until 1981. In conjunction with the
AMC Empire Theater, located two blocks south, the complex
was known as the AMC Midland-Empire. Since then, it has
become a performance hall, still used today for concerts and
special events. The theatre was placed on the National Register in 1977.

In 2007, AEG Live and the Cordish Company formed a partnership to undertake a multimillion-dollar
renovation of the historic venue. Since reopening in late 2008, the theater was called the Midland by AMC
and hosted events promoted by the AEG Presents (formerly AEG Live) company. Among the major changes,
the main-level seating rows were removed and replaced with a tiered open floor plan that allows for
banquet-style tables and chairs or standing room for general admission events. The exterior marquee was
restored to its original 1927 appearance. The five level office portion of the theatre that faces Main Street
was converted into a mix of bars, lounges, and administrative space. According to the developer (Cordish), all
changes meet federal and state historic preservation guidelines.

In 2013, AEG Live, the Cordish Company and Arvest Bank announced that the bank had acquired a multi-year
naming rights partnership to the Midland Theatre, which ended in June 2022.

Not only is the Midland an award-winning live music venue, it is also the venue of choice for numerous
corporate celebrations, charity galas, weddings and banquets.
Uptown Theater, Kansas City, MO

1926-1928: Designed by Kansas City architect, Robert Gornall.
Completed in 1928, the Uptown Theater was KC’s premier
entertainment spot showcasing first-run movies. “The
Irresistible Lover” starring Norman Carey and Lois Moran
opened to a sold-out crowd on January 7th.
1928-1929: Australian born John Eberson created KC’s only
“atmospheric” theater. It was designed to replicate a romantic,
outdoor Mediterranean courtyard. The most prominent feature
was the nighttime-sky ceiling, complete with twinkling stars,
clouds, and mechanical flying birds. In 1928, an unknown
comedian, Bob Hope performed his comedy act for a week-long
run of shows.
1930-1939: Movie stars like Joe E. Brown, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Tom Mix and his horse Tony, made
appearances on the Uptown stage. 1939: the Uptown copyrighted “fragratone” in which fragrances would be
funneled through the ventilation system, adding olfactory pleasure to the entertainment experience.

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47th National Conference & Theatre Tour July 2023 INLEAGUE | PAGE 29