Wichitan Sidney Toler played Charlie Chan, the famous fictional sleuth who captured the attention of movie audiences in the 1930s.

In 1900, Toler's father, Hooper, bought a large entertainment house on the southwest corner of St. Francis and First and named it Toler Auditorium.

Sidney Toler began his career in that auditorium. His mother wrote plays and encouraged her son to become a theater professional.