Star Theatre

The Star theatre opened in downtown Warrensburg in 1920 and operated through the mid-twentieth century. During the 1860s, two separate one-story buildings were constructed at 112 and 114 Pine Street. These two buildings were later combined into a single, two-story property between 1883 and 1888, and that building operated as a dry goods and general merchandise store until 1920. Most recently, the historic building operated as the Club Blue nightclub and Warehouse events center. Today, the structure is one of the many historic buildings that make up the Holden and Pine Streets Commercial Historic District.

The genesis of the Star Theatre dates back to the late nineteenth century, during the heart of Warrensburg's early growth. Around 1885, two one-story buildings at 112 Pine Street and 114 Pine Street built around the Civil War were combined to create one two-story building. The building conversion took place during the heart of Warrensburg's growth between 1860 and 1890, when the population grew from 982 to 4,706. The building operated as a dry goods and general merchandise store from the 1880s through the 1920s before transitioning into a theatre. 

A. H. Gilkeson, a pioneer merchant, built the first frame building in the town at 112 Pine Street. However, a fire destroyed the building, among many others on and near Pine Street in 1866. Gilkerson joined others in rebuilding, replacing the wood frame structure with a new brick building at a time when masonry construction had become the commercial-building material of choice owing to the threat of fire. Sometime between 1883 and 1888, the one-story building at 112 Pine Street transitioned into a two-story building and combined with the 114 Pine Street address. 

Before the consolidation transpired, the 112 Pine Street building supported a stationery store and post office, while the small one-story 114 Pine Street building supported a meat shop and barbershop. Records indicate that the larger two-story building operated as Gilkeson's Dry Goods Store, and it remained a dry goods store until at least 1907. By 1914, E. S. Wilcox managed a general merchandise store in the historic building at 114 Pine Street. Finally, around 1920, Thomas and Charles Goodnight converted the building into the Star Theater.

Commonwealth Amusement took possession of the theatre in 1941, and they continued to manage the theatre until the early 1950s. Though, records indicate the Star Theater continued to show movies through the late 1950s. Most recently, the building was home to a nightclub known as Club Blue, followed by the Warehouse event center. The building remains part of the Holden and Pine Streets Commercial Historic District, which includes the majority of downtown Warrensburg. 

Christopher, Tom. "Facebook.com post: West Pine Street." Johnson County Missouri Historical Society. facebook.com/jocomohistory/. May 5, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/jocomohistory/photos/a.10159046191510587/10163400929565587/?type=3. 

Nugent, Rachel and Alison Dunleavy. "Registration Form: Holden and Pine Streets Commercial Historic District. Star Theatre, 112 W. Pine St. (The Warehouse)." National Register of Historic Places. mostateparks.com. 2017. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Holden%20and%20Pine%20Sts%20Com%20HD.pdf.

Sheals, Debbie and Carol Grove. "Mulitple Property Documentation Form: Warrensburg, Missouri." National Register of Historic Places. mostateparks.com. 2012. https://mostateparks.com/sites/mostateparks/files/Historic%20and%20Architectural%20Resources%20of%20Warrensburg%2C%20MO.pdf.

"Star Theater: 114 West Pine Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093." Cinema Treasures. cinematreastures.org. Accessed November 9, 2021. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/28637.