Kansas movie theater recognized for its longevity

OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — The oldest continuously operating movie theater in the world might figure to be in New York or Hollywood.

How about Kansas?

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Ottawa is home to the Plaza 1907 Cinema, showing films since May 22, 1907, when black-and-white silent movies ruled the day. Ottawa is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, Missouri, and is home to 12,300 people.

What sets the theater apart is that over the past 112 years, it has never shut down and has remained at the same location.

The Plaza applied for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2017. It achieved the distinction of being the “World’s Oldest Operating Purpose-Built Cinema” after it was determined it was two days older than a theater in Denmark.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com