The Glenwood is gone but 30 years ago today it was at the top of its game

If you're a fan of the Kansas City area OR the Star Wars movies, check out an AMAZING post regarding the 30 year anniversary of the opening and you'll probably get a bit misty eyed.

The Glenwood was the Kansas City area's crown jewel of movie theaters. Located in the suburb of Overland Park, KS, it opened in 1966 as part of the Glenwood Manor motel and convention complex. Featuring an ornate chandelier in the lobby, the Glenwood had around 800 or so very comfortable seats facing the largest screen in the Kansas City area. The gigantic gold curtain that covered the screen before showtimes just hinted at what was to come.

By the mid 70's, Dickinson Theatres, who owned the Glenwood, added an additional screen right next to the main auditorium. It was very similar to the big theater but held about 500 people. It didn't matter to me where I saw it. I just could not wait. I had seen one of the trailers at another movie about a month earlier and I just could not stop thinking about this great new movie.

Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I sat perfectly still from the 20th Century Fox logo to the tail end of the credits. My dad was amazed because I was a very hyper child and to get me to sit still for two minutes let alone two hours was amazing to him. My favorite characters right off the bat were Darth Vader and Han Solo. That whole blockade runner sequence at the beginning is still my favorite part of the movie 30 years later.

My God, has it been 30 years???? I guess so, actually it would be a momentous occasion if only the not so distant memory of Jar-Jar Binks makes me put the whole thing in perspective.

Sadly, the Glenwood Theater is long gone and whatever integrity the Star Wars Franchise had was sold off in order secure the billions of dollars George Lucas needed to produce cinema classics like Howard the Duck.

Never forget, Han Solo shot first!!!



In it's place, a Bob Evans now occupies the spot were the Glenwood once stood . . . Which should convince you that people involved with real estate are geniuses and know better than you.