We are your total sales, service, new construction, remodeling, and consulting company for Motion Picture Exhibitors, as well as your source for the installation and service of your digital and 35mm equipment.  Whether building and equipping an entire theatre, diagnosing problems on your equipment or finding and installing the replacement parts you need, we have the resources, ability and desire to handle it all.

Because of personal relationships with our customers, we have invested ourselves and our company into bringing digital to the Independent and Community Owned theatres.  While some companies and individuals thought Digital may never make it to the independent exhibitor, Sonic has made digital a reality for more than 150 screens so far.  This was made possible by our motivated staff who worked together with digital manufacturers to create customizable equipment and services options, including financing options.

As individual employees and a company as a whole, we are continuing, and will continue, to be that forward thinking entity that helped bring those who thought they would be left behind into the Digital Age.

Our History

Sonic Equipment Company was started in the early 1970’s by Sterling Bagby with the original name of Sonic Signs.  The company was moved to Iola, KS in 1982 with the Bagby family’s purchase of the B&B theatre chain for which Sonic became the service company.  Eric Olson (current Director of Operations) moved to Iola to “learn the business” in 1995.  There were a mere four employees when he joined the company.

Sonic mourned the passing of Mr. Sterling Bagby to his fight with cancer in the year of 2000, and Eric Olson took over his position.  By 2000, Sonic had grown to eight employees.  The business changed their focus and goals from servicing only the B&B theatre chain to servicing any/all theatres.  Over the next four years Sonic had built fourteen theatres and increased their service route by 100 screens.

In 2004, Sonic divided itself into two companies (REB Construction and Sonic Equipment Company) as the growth continued.  They worked, and continue to work together to provide a full package for the build and install of new theatres.  By 2004 Sonic had grown again in numbers to 14 employees.

Then came the year 2005 when the focus of the company began to shift to include retail sales outside of the theatre business.  Sonic became a supplier of Little Giant ladders and started the process of selling concession equipment and the like to individual customers and companies that were not involved with the theatre industry.

Sonic has grown in numbers to more than 30 employees and now performs service on more than 500 screens in 13 states!  This increase is comparable to just last year (2009) when we had just at 30 employees and were maintaining 400 screens in 8 states. The retail sales have increased from international to worldwide and the numbers of customers keeps growing.

Today we face imminent changes in technology; wonderful changes.  As the roll-out of D-Cinema has become more than a blurred vision, we have created a Digital package for independent theatre owners with the hopes that we may make Digital a reality for the smaller theatres. Our future looks bright, and our company will continue to grow both internally and in relationships with our customers as they take the ride into the future with us...

Our Vision

The partnership of Sonic Equipment Company and Kneisley Manufacturing Company is a cooperative enterprise that provides a broad range of goods and services to a number of varied and growing industries. We are fully trained and professional companies highly regarded by our customers and employees. We deliver quality work and friendly service while maintaining a satisfied staff of self motivated and talented people. Our job knowledge and personal commitment to the future keeps us on the leading edge of our ever-evolving industries. Although we maintain an independent identity with our respective customers and vendors, we act as one within our daily work environment and our local community. We build on our tradition of steady growth and innovation by continually adding new customers, products and services that lead our companies into new areas of our country and the world.

Our Mission

Our mission is to evolve and thrive as our industry demands so we may provide our customers with the best possible quality products, maintenance and service.