Durwood Theatres was founded by Edward D. Durwood in 1920 when he acquired the lease on the Regent Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. By 1930 Edward D. Durwood had created a partnership with his three brothers to operate ten small theatres outside of Kansas City that he had acquired, as well as the Liberty Theatre in Kansas City. Durwood Theatres joined forces with Paramount-Publix in 1932 to operate 40 theatres together. This partnership would last less than two years before it was dissolved.

Durwood had acquired or built four more theatres outside of the Kansas City area. The partnership between Edward D. Durwood and his brothers was dissolved in 1947, and Durwood Theatres was incorporated.