Built in late 1911, the theatre was one of the chain of O. T. Crawford. Architect was F. A. Duggan.
Opening name was MIKADO, which was appropriate as the theatre was designed in Japanese style. Original seating capacity was 1608, with a balcony.
In 1939, St. Louis Amusement stripped the house of interesting architectural design and went to an “ultra-modern” design…as well as reducing the seating capacity to 1103 (650 on main floor; 453 in balcony). Architect of the re-do was Sol Abrams.
The Mikado name was not to last much longer. A $50 prize was offered to the winner of a rename the theatre contest soon after WWII began, and the theatre became the VICTORY in February, 1942.
Theatre was located at 5851 Easton (now Martin Luther King).
The one thing about the theatre that I will always remember is that the orchestra floor sloped UP to the screen—not the usual downward slope of the floor.
Does anyone know if there were other theatres of this type? This has been the only theatre like this that I have been in.
Theatre designed by Kennerly and Stiegemeyer, a firm which designed a good number of St. Louis nabes.
Opening day was Sept. 1, 1919 (Labor Day) under the management of Wm. Goldman. Theatre opened as the GRAND-FLORISSANT.
As a good number of St. Louis nabes, house was taken over by Famous Players-Missouri in 1920, then City Wide Amusement, and in 1921 St. Louis Amusement.
Seating capacity listed in many sources as 1850, possibly the largest nabe in St. Louis.
Theatre renamed the FLORISSANT in 1930.
In 1946 house was remodeled and reopened as the TOWER.
At the present time the Roberts are not sure what they will be doing. Presently, they consider the venue “a ballroom extension to the Mayfair (Hotel)”. It is envisioned to have rentals, weddings and bar mitzvahs—in other words, continue the policy the previous owners had. No plans to return seats to the main floor (seats, incidentally, are in storage in basement). All of this, of course, subject to change. With the plans to reopen the Kiel Opera House, all of this is understandable.
An news story in the Globe-Democrat of March 6, 1925 tells the tale of Metropolitan Theatres being sued by the person who was hired to negotiate the lease of the theatre to the Orpheum Circuit. Terms were $100,000 rental for 10 years and 50% of the profit.
Incidentally, on this website, shouldn’t the theatre be listed as the ST. LOUIS Theatre as that was the name when a “cinema treasure”?
Cherokee opened in 1911 as a legitimate playhouse, part of the chain of O. T. Crawford. As time progressed, theatre became part of the Koplar chain, Famous Players-Missouri, Koplar (again) and finally Fred Wehrenberg’s circuit.
Architect the firm of Duggan & Huff.
Conversion of facility into retail stores took place in 1931.
Original structure opened in 1921, but destroyed by fire in April 1944. Capacity was 950.
Second Wellston Theatre opened in November 1945. This featured stadium seating and was designed by Hugo Graf. One of the theatres operated by St. Louis Amusement. Capacity was 1100.
Built in late 1911, the theatre was one of the chain of O. T. Crawford. Architect was F. A. Duggan.
Opening name was MIKADO, which was appropriate as the theatre was designed in Japanese style. Original seating capacity was 1608, with a balcony.
In 1939, St. Louis Amusement stripped the house of interesting architectural design and went to an “ultra-modern” design…as well as reducing the seating capacity to 1103 (650 on main floor; 453 in balcony). Architect of the re-do was Sol Abrams.
The Mikado name was not to last much longer. A $50 prize was offered to the winner of a rename the theatre contest soon after WWII began, and the theatre became the VICTORY in February, 1942.
Theatre was located at 5851 Easton (now Martin Luther King).
The New Orleans Loew’s State was not a “twin” to the St. Louis house.
Laclede Theatre built by Alex Pappas. Architect of record was O. W. Stiegemeyer. House approximately 500 seats.
Opening date was March 23, 1940.
Theatre, from the beginning, was for the African-American trade.
Theatre still has its original Barton organ installation.
I was in the theatre once, back in 1958.
The one thing about the theatre that I will always remember is that the orchestra floor sloped UP to the screen—not the usual downward slope of the floor.
Does anyone know if there were other theatres of this type? This has been the only theatre like this that I have been in.
Theatre designed by Kennerly and Stiegemeyer, a firm which designed a good number of St. Louis nabes.
Opening day was Sept. 1, 1919 (Labor Day) under the management of Wm. Goldman. Theatre opened as the GRAND-FLORISSANT.
As a good number of St. Louis nabes, house was taken over by Famous Players-Missouri in 1920, then City Wide Amusement, and in 1921 St. Louis Amusement.
Seating capacity listed in many sources as 1850, possibly the largest nabe in St. Louis.
Theatre renamed the FLORISSANT in 1930.
In 1946 house was remodeled and reopened as the TOWER.
Further research finds closing date of theatre to be November 27, 1949.
Opened January 10, 1963.
Trans-Lux took over management July 8, 1968.
Last day as film house was February 19, 1974.
Later used as a church.
Demolished for a parking lot for an adjacent drugstore.
Rio opened November 22, 1939. Architect was William Schlesinger.
Theatre owned by Rio Theatre Corporation, Nat Koplar, president.
Theatre opened in 1912 as a legitimate house. Architect was F.A.Duggan. Once affiliated with the Park Theatre on Delmar.
By 1916 films were being shown at the Shenandoah, sometimes with vaudeville added to the mix.
In 1941 the theatre was completely remodeled, a design it sported until closure in 1977. Architect for the redo was Leo F. Abrams.
Theatre opened October 22, 1924.
Architects the firm of Wedemeyer & Nelson.
Built and originally operated by the Freund Brothers.
At the present time the Roberts are not sure what they will be doing. Presently, they consider the venue “a ballroom extension to the Mayfair (Hotel)”. It is envisioned to have rentals, weddings and bar mitzvahs—in other words, continue the policy the previous owners had. No plans to return seats to the main floor (seats, incidentally, are in storage in basement). All of this, of course, subject to change. With the plans to reopen the Kiel Opera House, all of this is understandable.
In above, it was $100,000 annual rental for a 10-year term.
An news story in the Globe-Democrat of March 6, 1925 tells the tale of Metropolitan Theatres being sued by the person who was hired to negotiate the lease of the theatre to the Orpheum Circuit. Terms were $100,000 rental for 10 years and 50% of the profit.
Incidentally, on this website, shouldn’t the theatre be listed as the ST. LOUIS Theatre as that was the name when a “cinema treasure”?
Majestic built by Harry Redmond and Fred Leber, replacing an earlier Majestic on the same site.
Great States Theatres (a branch of the Paramount-Publix theatre empire) leased and operated the theatre for many years beginning in 1929.
At a Landmarks tour of the theatre this week, one of the Roberts Brothers stated that theatre will again be called the ORPHEUM.
At a Landmarks tour this week one of the Roberts Brothers (owners) stated theatre will again be officially known as the ORPHEUM.
Correct address of Powhatan was 3111 Sutton and was not near the City Limits loop which was across from the Maplewood.
Earliest reference I have found was in the 1915 Maplewood City Directory.
Theatre built by W. B. Powhatan.
Management changed over the years from Mr. Powhatan to St. Louis Amusement to Alex Papand/Bess Schulter to St. Louis Amusement (again).
An airdome was adjacent to the theatre which was one of the last to operate in the St. Louis area.
Theatre closed in the early 50s, and a supermarket was erected on the site.
Theatre opened with vaudeville and films in 1910.
Building permit lists owner as August A. Busch (Anheuser-Busch).
Architect the firm of Klipstein & Rathman.
Wehrenberg took over theatre in 1928.
Cherokee opened in 1911 as a legitimate playhouse, part of the chain of O. T. Crawford. As time progressed, theatre became part of the Koplar chain, Famous Players-Missouri, Koplar (again) and finally Fred Wehrenberg’s circuit.
Architect the firm of Duggan & Huff.
Conversion of facility into retail stores took place in 1931.
Located at the intersection of Olive & Sarah, the Congress was built in 1911 and opened as the OLIVE Theatre.
In 1913 theatre presented legitimate drama, was renamed the MARGUERITE CLARK.
In 1915 theatre became the CONGRESS.
Architect was W. Albert Swasey.
Loew’s operated as a first-run movie house from January 1919 to February 1921.
Original name of the theatre was the GRANADA.
In fact, there were two Wellston Theatres.
Original structure opened in 1921, but destroyed by fire in April 1944. Capacity was 950.
Second Wellston Theatre opened in November 1945. This featured stadium seating and was designed by Hugo Graf. One of the theatres operated by St. Louis Amusement. Capacity was 1100.
Building permit issued in September 1910. Architect the firm of Duggan & Huff.
Owned by Shulim Sigoloff, he leased the theatre to St. Louis Amusement around 1934.