Mitchell Theatres is a subsidiary of the Elkhart, Kansas based Mitchell Farms, a three generation family
farm owned by Kenny & Linda Mitchell, Brian & Rosa Mitchell, Brent & Debra Mitchell and Cory & Kendra
Ramsey. Mitchell Farms grows corn, wheat and milo across 35,000 acres, approximately half of it
irrigated.
The Mitchell's entered the theatre business in 2000 when they build and leased their first theatre,
Northridge
Cinema 5. This was two years after the Mitchell’s purchased Northridge Shopping Center in Guymon,
Oklahoma. Northridge Cinema 5 soon became Northridge Cinema 8 when the Mitchell family added three
additional screens to the theatre in 2003. In July of 2005, Northridge Cinema 8 became the first theatre
owned and operated by the Mitchell Family when Mitchell Theatres, LLC purchased the theatre operations.
Excited to expand into their home state of Kansas, in 2006 the Mitchell Family purchased the Chisholm
Trail Shopping Center in Newton, Kansas. Along with the Chisholm Trail Shopping Center, Mitchell
Theatres purchased and renovated their second theatre, Chisholm Trail Cinema 8. Pleased with their
additional theatre, in May of 2009 Mitchell Theatres purchased the Southgate Cinema 4 in Liberal,
Kansas. After an extensive renovation and expansion, the small four screen theatre reopened as Southgate
Cinema 6.
After the grand reopening of Southgate Cinema 6, only few months later in January of 2010, Mitchell
Theaters acquired Sequoyah Cinema 8 in Garden City, Kansas. Like Southgate Cinema 6 and Chisholm Trail 8
before it, Mitchell Theatres remodeled and renovated the theatre, with a grand reopening in the fall of
2010.
In April of 2011, Mitchell Theatres acquired two additional Kansas based theatres, Cowley Cinema 8 in
Winfield and Central Cinema 6 in El Dorado. Shortly after, Mitchell Theatres expand into Missouri in
July of 2011 when they acquired Belton Cinema 8 in Belton, Missouri. The theatre was remodeled and
refurbished the following year.
2012 became Mitchell Theaters busiest year to date as they added four new properties, expanding into
Colorado and New Mexico. In July of 2012 Mitchell Theatres acquired two New Mexico locations,
Storyteller Cinema 7 in Taos and Starlight Cinema 8 in Los Lunas. Both theatres were remodeled and
renovated the following year. Also in July of 2012, Mitchell Theatres purchased and remodeled Skyline
Cinema 8 in Dillon, Colorado. Just as summer ended, in September of 2012, Mitchell Theatres completed
construction of Lakeside Cinema 6, a new six screen theatre in Woodward, Oklahoma.
Mitchell Theatres continued expanding in New Mexico when in 2013, it acquired Dreamcatcher Cinema 10, a
ten screen theatre in Espanola, just north of Santa Fe. Dreamcatcher Cinema 10 was remodeled following
year. Mitchell Theatres moved into Arizona in 2015 with the purchase of Oasis Cinema 9, a nine screen
theatre in Nogales, Arizona. The lobby, concession and front facade of Oasis Cinema 9 were remodeled
that same year.
Returning to their hometown, Mitchell Theatres acquired the historic Doric Theatre in Elkhart, Kansas.
The Doric Theatre was originally built in 1918 and was the areas home for silent film presentations as
well as live Vaudeville performances. Closed in the early 1980s, the Doric Theatre underwent a complete
renovation and was designed for not only film presentation, but also, sticking to it’s roots, is a venue
for view live theater and performances. The Doric became Mitchell Theatres first "boutique" theatre
including the Oscar's Lounge, which serves beer, wine, cocktails and an expanded food menu. Along with
mainstream films, the Doric also screens Art House and Independent films, a first for the area. In
conjunction with the Doric Theatre’s remodel, an additional screen was added to Sequoyah Cinema 8,
making it Sequoyah Cinema 9. Both projects were completed in 2016.
In May of 2017, Mitchell Theatres expanded into the Texas Panhandle with the purchase of the historical
Morley Theatre. “The Morley”, as it’s know in it’s hometown of Borger, TX, was built in 1947 and was
designed by Jack Corgan of Dallas, Texas. It was originally operated by the Griffith-Consolidated
Theater Chain. The Morley, with its Grande Auditorium, is one of the few theaters operating to still
feature balcony seating. Mitchell Theatres fully renovated the now 5 screen theatre, adding upgraded
sound, new seats and added recliners on the ground floor of the Grande Auditorium. Mitchell Theatres
also expanded the building further add an Arcade, Party Room and Oscar’s Lounge for customers to
purchase Alcoholic Beverages.
Mitchell Theatres owns and operates a total of 107 screens in 15 locations across Arizona, Colorado,
Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas with over three hundred twenty-five employees. As of 2017. Mitchell Theatres was
ranked the forty-fourth (44th) largest movie theatre chain in the United States. Mitchell Theatres
continues to actively look for opportunities to grow and expand throughout the Midwest.
- Manager