I was on my way across the country from West to East coast about 8 years ago, and realized I could take advantage of the route to stop in Kansas at Dodge City, to take a look at what remained of the main theatre where Errol Flynn spoke to the crowds about his new film Dodge City, and a huge event it all was. I found the theatre, The Dodge Theatre, with its marquee down and laid inside the locked doors, and drove part of the parade route. But apparently, I missed something!
I did not find this plaque on the Dodge City Trail of Fame …
I found the boulevard where the parade was held that Errol rode a horse down and waved his hat to the heavy crowds on April 1, 1939. 50,000 people showed up for the film’s premier.
Three movie theatres were needed to meet the demand for the film. Errol and others spoke to the audience at the Dodge Theatre. It fell into disuse in later years, and the time I rolled by, it’s marquee was torn down as a hazard and laid inside the closed doors of the theatre. It was auctioned on eBay but a bid of $490 did not meet the seller’s price so it remained in the old movie house. There was an effort to restore it that came to nothing, as far as I can tell.
— David DeWitt
