The Bowersock Opera House burned down in 1911. Owner J.D. Bowersock, vowing it would be the last time fire would destroy a building on the site, used reinforced concrete to rebuild his opera house. One hundred years later, the building now called Liberty Hall is still standing at the corner of Seventh and Massachusetts streets.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library, Kansas University

After fire destroyed two previous buildings on the site, J.D. Bowersock decided to build his new Bowersock Opera House out of concrete to prevent it befalling the same fate. The building, pictured during construction in 1912, still stands today.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum

This illustrated program cover is from a 1922 show at the Bowersock Theatre. The show, "The White Peacock," featured Olga Petrova.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum

This photo shows the interior of the Dickinson Theatre, which operated from 1923 to 1940 in the building now called Liberty Hall. The same chandeliers still hang in the theater.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library, Kansas University

This image shows the building now called Liberty Hall in 1925, when it was the Dickinson Theater and mainly showed motion pictures. Advertised on the marquee is "The Perfect Flapper," a silent film starring Colleen Moore.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum

This photo shows present-day Liberty Hall as it looked in the 1930s, when it operated as the Dickinson Theater. The marquee advertises Mae West in "Belle of the Nineties" and an organ performance by Ken Griffith.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library, Kansas University

Hollywood stars came to town for the April 1940 world premiere of "The Dark Command," which was screened in the building now called Liberty Hall. The film, starring John Wayne, was set in Lawrence and inspired by the story of Quantrill's Raid.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Douglas County Historical Society, Watkins Museum

Moviegoers line up outside the Jayhawker Theatre to see "A Walk in the Sun" starring Dana Andrews. The Jayhawker operated from 1940 until the late 1950s in the building now called Liberty Hall.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library, Kansas University

A crowd gathers in front of the Jayhawker Theatre, which operated from 1940 to the late 1950s in the building now known as Liberty Hall. The marquee advertises "The Affairs of Susan," a 1945 film starring Joan Fontaine, George Brent and Dennis O'Keefe.

Photo by Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library, Kansas University

A large tray of flowers are delivered to the entrance of Liberty Hall for the memorial service of writer and Lawrence resident William S. Burroughs on Aug. 6, 1997, four days after he died of a heart attack.

Photo by Journal-World File Photo

Howard Dean addresses a crowd of about 1,000 Democrats at Liberty Hall on Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at Liberty Hall. Dean, former presidential candidate and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, also visited the home of a Lawrence couple where attendants donated $100-a-head to the DNC.

Photo by Thad Allender

Lawrence's Chuck Mead and the band BR-549 perform on New Year's Eve, 1999, in Liberty Hall.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley, center, picks out a tune on his banjo during a performance with his band the Clinch Mountain Boys at Liberty Hall in July 2004.

Photo by Mike Yoder