The Olathe Community Theatre Organization

Our building was established by the Covenant Church in 1870. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing in Olathe. The stained glass windows in the auditorium all carry biblical themes and are the originals, over 80 years old. The one-room building was originally equipped with only coal oil lamps. Heat for the building was by coal stoves, one on either side of the altar area (now the stage).

In 1902, the building underwent its first expansion…the addition of lecture rooms to the west. These lecture rooms now serve as our lobby. Sheds were built outside, in 1905, to protect horses from the elements. Soon thereafter, the coal stoves were replaced by a coal furnace. And that was later replaced by gas. Electricity was added to the facility in 1909. The building's final expansion occurred in 1919, when a pastor's study and a kitchen were added on the north (what are now the public rest rooms).

For 105 years, the building served as home to the Covenant Church congregation. It wasn't until their membership dwindled that it became necessary for them to merge with the Reformed Presbyterians during the middle of the twentieth century. Unfortunately, in 1972, the building was vacated.

The Olathe Community Theatre Association had been presenting shows in various schools throughout the Olathe area and was looking for a more permanent home. They came upon the old Covenant Church building. In 1977, OCTA was able to purchase the facility through numerous fund raising activities. These activities included:

• A special viewing of the motion picture Wings, the first movie to win the Academy Award for Best Picture
• A personal appearance by Charles "Buddy" Rogers, an Olathe native and featured actor in the film
• Numerous private donations
• And a $5,000 donation from Buddy Rogers

Vandals set a fire in the basement and lobby of our facility in 1982. It destroyed the lobby windows and forced the doors to close temporarily. The playhouse reopened in 1983 with restored stained glass windows and refurbished lobby and basement.

In the mid-80s, the OCTA Board of Directors established a multi-phased plan, targeted at performing several serious upgrades to the facility. The first phase of that included the replacement of the original wooden church pews with cushioned and tiered theatre-style seating. Included also was the creation of the "black box" space with additional lighting grids. Finally the basement dressing area was completely refurbished with task lighting, mirrors, and lavatories. This first phase was completed in 1987.

The second phase of the project included the replacement of the heating and ventilation system, and an upgrade to include air conditioning. This occurred in 1990. Since then, Olathe Community Theatre Association has proudly presented year-around productions for our patrons and neighbors.

Phase three involved the paving of the parking lot in 1995. The exterior of the building was the benefactor of the fourth phase of our restoration plan. The building's exterior underwent significant maintenance, including the restoration of rot and paint. Unfortunately, our planned capital improvement projects were unexpectedly put on hold during our 1998-99 season when our roof became besieged with leaks. Through the help of the City of Olathe, we were able to completely replace the roof and repair any water damage inside the building. The next year we were surprised at having to conduct repairs to the western foundation wall to fix leaks and basement flooding. Again, the City of Olathe helped out.

We were recently able to complete the fifth phase of our capital improvement project by replacing our lighting and sound systems. At the same time, again with the help of the City of Olathe and the federal government, we were able to replace our rest room facilities so that patron's with special needs now have full access to the facility. Since 1987, OCTA has raised and spent over $150,000 on the upkeep and improvement of our wonderful facility.

Volunteers, season ticket holders, community and city support, and a dedicated Board of Directors provide the backbone of the Olathe Community Theatre Association and are directly responsible for its continued success. Today, OCTA offers a variety of theatre and has grown into one of the most successful and progressive community theaters in the entire Kansas City metropolitan area. And we continue to make history with Kansas City theatrical premiers!

Buddy “Charles” Rogers

Charles 'Buddy' Rogers was born in Olathe, Kansas on August 13th, 1904 to Maude and Bert Rogers. He graduated from Olathe High School and the University of Kansas. He was interested in music, athletics, and the theater. After moving to California, he trained to be an actor at the Paramount Picture School. Buddy was groomed for stardom and started appearing in silent films by the mid-1920's. He was in two big hits right away: "Fascinating Youth" (1926), his first film, and the other "Wings" (1927), co-starring Clara Bow. "Wings" was the first feature film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. In 1927 Buddy met Mary Pickford, when they were cast together for a sweet, romantic film called "My Best Girl" (1927). Their off-screen relationship turned romantic as well, but Mary tried to hold her marriage together with Douglas Fairbanks and succeeded for several more years. However, by 1936 Mary and Doug were divorced, and in 1937 Buddy Rogers married Mary Pickford.

Respected by his peers for his work in film and for his humanitarianism, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored Rogers in 1985 with The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

A longtime resident and benefactor of California's Coachella Valley, Rogers was honored by having a children's symphony orchestra he and second wife, Beverley Ricondo, a real estate agent he married in 1981, helped found named after him. A street in Cathedral City, California is named after him as well.

Buddy Rogers died in Rancho Mirage, California in 1999 at the age of 94 of natural causes, and was interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Cathedral City) near Palm Springs, California.