Structure dated from 1927, originally the Gospel Tabernacle.
In 1936, converted to theatre which opened in November.
Architect of re-do was Benjamin Shapiro.
Theatre featured stadium seating.
Maury Davis was the long-time manager. In 1939 became part of the Sam Schuchart chain which also included the Esquire and the Norside.
Theatre just south of the intersection of Union & Page.
It may be interesting to some that when the theatre opened the manager was Harry Greenman, who was the first manager of the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Also, when the theatre opened it presented a few weeks of “stage shows” (on the apron) and featured was Tom Terry as organist who was the organist at the Fox when it opened. Esquire organ, however, an electronic not a pipe organ.
Theatre became first run in the mid-50s. The first film I remember under this policy was a hard-ticket run of “Around the World in 80 Days”.
Theatre dated back to 1915, the opening date being Sept. 18, 1915.
Architect was Norman Howard. Originally sat 1400.
The Skouras Brothers took over the theatre in 1916, the second acquisition in the just beginning Skouras empire. Pageant became a member of the St. Louis Amusement chain when it was formed in 1921. St. Louis Amusement a merging of the theatre interests of the Skouras Brothers and Harry Koplar.
In 1939 St. Louis Amusement remodeled the house and reduced the capacity to 990.
Theatre opened in 1910 with popular priced vaudeville and known as the Colonial Theatre. Architect was Charles Green. Seating capacity at that time was 990.
This policy was not successful. Went to a stock company policy and the name of the theatre was changed to MAJESTIC. In 1913 theatre was sold at foreclosure to Fred Block by the Colonial Amusement Co. Theatre again renamed to MONARCH.
In 1914, theatre policy changed to movies and name changed once again, this time to WEST END LYRIC. (At the time, the owner had a theatre downtown, the LYRIC.)
In 1917, theatre was taken over by the Skouras Brothers as a first-run (multiple) house.
In 1927 theatre became a 2nd run house.
An extensive remodeling took place in 1937, at which point theatre
became known as the WEST END.
Architects the local firm of Kennerly & Stiegemeyer, who designed a large number of neighborhood theatres.
Theatre opened August 23, 1914.
Built by the Great Northern Amusement Company. In 1919 William Goldman added the theatre to his chain.
In 1920 theatre management became Famous Players-Missouri, an arm of Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount).
In 1921 theatre became part of City Wide Amusement (the Koplars),
and later that same year St. Louis Amusement Company was formed, a
merger, of sorts, between Koplar and the Skouras Bros.
St. Louis Amusement operated the theatre until its demise.
New Grand Central opened on March 31, 1913. Built by Rex Amusement Company which was operating the Central Theatre downtown. The New Grand Central was the first movie house in the area which eventually became St. Louis' movie theatre district.
The Skouras Bros. took over the house in 1920. At this time the “New” was dropped from the name.
Architect was the firm of Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson.
The last use of the house was on October 1, 1935.
In 1936, Fanchon & Marco announced plans to convert the facility into an art house and rename as Guild Cinema. However, early in 1937 these plans were dropped as bids received were two times F&M’s original estimate.
Demolition permit was issued on Dec. 30, 1948.
A realistic seating capacity is 1850.
When the St. Louis opened, it was considered a “Junior” Orpheum house—meaning it featured five acts of vaudeville and a feature film with continuous performances.
As a movie house, the St. Louis closed on Oct. 31, 1966 after a 19-month run of, appropriately enough, “The Sound of Music”.
St. Louis' Missouri Theatre was designed by the firm of DeRosa & Pereira for Famous Players-Missouri (a subsidiary of Famous Players-Lasky).
Theatre opened November 8, 1920. Seating capacity was approximately 3600.
Theatre was last used in December, 1957.
Theatre was demolished in summer, 1959.
Office building was not “built in its place”, but was built in 1922 fronting Grand Avenue. Theatre auditorium was behind the office building. 1959 demolition was of auditorium only.
Theatre was later operated by the Skouras Bros., RKO, and Fanchon & Marco which evolved into Arthur Enterprises.
Structure dated from 1927, originally the Gospel Tabernacle.
In 1936, converted to theatre which opened in November.
Architect of re-do was Benjamin Shapiro.
Theatre featured stadium seating.
Maury Davis was the long-time manager. In 1939 became part of the Sam Schuchart chain which also included the Esquire and the Norside.
Theatre just south of the intersection of Union & Page.
It may be interesting to some that when the theatre opened the manager was Harry Greenman, who was the first manager of the Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Also, when the theatre opened it presented a few weeks of “stage shows” (on the apron) and featured was Tom Terry as organist who was the organist at the Fox when it opened. Esquire organ, however, an electronic not a pipe organ.
Theatre became first run in the mid-50s. The first film I remember under this policy was a hard-ticket run of “Around the World in 80 Days”.
Arco opened in 1911, one of the theatres of O. T. Crawford.
Architect of record was the firm of Duggan & Huff.
Theatre taken over by Famous Players-Missouri, then the Koplar syndicate, and finally St. Louis Amusement Co.
Theatre closed when the Manchester Theatre, just out the street, opened.
Building permit issued in Nov. 1925 lists E.P. Rupert as architect.
Theatre opened Oct. 1, 1927.
Manchester opened January 2, 1922 as part of the St. Louis Amusement Company chain.
Architect was E. P. Porter.
Opening date of Richmond was October 23, 1935.
Built by Oscar Lehr; then operated by Kieselhorst & Wilson (who also operated the Shady Oak); in 1937 leased to St. Louis Amusement.
Theatre operated for years as a neighborhood house. Became an art house in the 50s.
The Melvin dates from 1914.
The original owner was Joseph Hallaman who named the theatre after his son.
Building permit lists architect as Theodore Degenhardt.
The information I submitted was given me by Jimmy James, the son of Tommy James…including a Xerox of the opening program.
Theatre located at 3149 S. Grand.
Built in 1910, one of the theatres of O.T. Crawford. Opened as the JUNIATA Theatre.
Theatre renamed the RITZ in 1924 when the Ansell Brothers took over.
Architect was William Lucas.
Capacity of 950.
The Comet was located at 4106 Finney. It opened in August 1940 with a Negro-audience policy.
(The Douglass was one block west at 4201 Finney.)
The Comet had 900 seats. It was built and operated by Tommy James.
Theatre dated back to 1915, the opening date being Sept. 18, 1915.
Architect was Norman Howard. Originally sat 1400.
The Skouras Brothers took over the theatre in 1916, the second acquisition in the just beginning Skouras empire. Pageant became a member of the St. Louis Amusement chain when it was formed in 1921. St. Louis Amusement a merging of the theatre interests of the Skouras Brothers and Harry Koplar.
In 1939 St. Louis Amusement remodeled the house and reduced the capacity to 990.
Architect was Robert Boller.
Opened November 8, 1939.
Built and operated for many years by Sam Schucart.
Address was 7226 Michigan(at Robert).
Opened Christmas Day, 1924.
During construction Fred Wehrenberg bought the theatre and house was always part of his circuit.
One floor theatre, single screen, stage, capacity 1200.
Theatre opened in 1910 with popular priced vaudeville and known as the Colonial Theatre. Architect was Charles Green. Seating capacity at that time was 990.
This policy was not successful. Went to a stock company policy and the name of the theatre was changed to MAJESTIC. In 1913 theatre was sold at foreclosure to Fred Block by the Colonial Amusement Co. Theatre again renamed to MONARCH.
In 1914, theatre policy changed to movies and name changed once again, this time to WEST END LYRIC. (At the time, the owner had a theatre downtown, the LYRIC.)
In 1917, theatre was taken over by the Skouras Brothers as a first-run (multiple) house.
In 1927 theatre became a 2nd run house.
An extensive remodeling took place in 1937, at which point theatre
became known as the WEST END.
Theatre located on the northwest corner of Ivanhoe & Bradley.
Theatre was built and owned by Fred Hof. Architect was C. N. Brietshuh. Seating capacity was 690.
Opened in late 1925, and for many years was managed by Isabella Tabler.
In 1942 theatre purchased from Fred Hof by Sam Komm.
In 1944 theatre purchased by Bess Schulter, adding it to her chain of theatres including the Avalon, Roxy, Columbia and Powhatan.
In a matter of months, Schulter sold the theatre to St. Louis Amusement Co., who had been operating it for her.
In time, theatre became an independent house.
Theatre demolished in 1965 for a two-story apartment house.
Architects the local firm of Kennerly & Stiegemeyer, who designed a large number of neighborhood theatres.
Theatre opened August 23, 1914.
Built by the Great Northern Amusement Company. In 1919 William Goldman added the theatre to his chain.
In 1920 theatre management became Famous Players-Missouri, an arm of Famous Players-Lasky (Paramount).
In 1921 theatre became part of City Wide Amusement (the Koplars),
and later that same year St. Louis Amusement Company was formed, a
merger, of sorts, between Koplar and the Skouras Bros.
St. Louis Amusement operated the theatre until its demise.
Building permit for the theatre was issued in September 1910.
Theatre closed in March 1951.
Theatre located one-half block west of Macklind Avenue.
The St.Louis was not built by Skouras Brothers, nor was it ever operated by that firm.
The St. Louis was built by Metropolitan Theatres, a local firm which included Harry Koplar.
Opening date was November 23, 1925.
As the St. Louis it had an original seating capacity of 3881.
The Skouras Brothers did NOT build or ever operate the nearby St. Louis Theatre.
New Grand Central opened on March 31, 1913. Built by Rex Amusement Company which was operating the Central Theatre downtown. The New Grand Central was the first movie house in the area which eventually became St. Louis' movie theatre district.
The Skouras Bros. took over the house in 1920. At this time the “New” was dropped from the name.
Architect was the firm of Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson.
The last use of the house was on October 1, 1935.
In 1936, Fanchon & Marco announced plans to convert the facility into an art house and rename as Guild Cinema. However, early in 1937 these plans were dropped as bids received were two times F&M’s original estimate.
Demolition permit was issued on Dec. 30, 1948.
A realistic seating capacity is 1850.
Original name of the theatre was the Montgomery. Theatre renamed in 1937.
Theatre not built by Komm, but by Harry Koplar.
When the St. Louis opened, it was considered a “Junior” Orpheum house—meaning it featured five acts of vaudeville and a feature film with continuous performances.
As a movie house, the St. Louis closed on Oct. 31, 1966 after a 19-month run of, appropriately enough, “The Sound of Music”.
Theatre opened as the Orpheum on Labor Day, 1917. A pure vaudeville house at the time, with two-a-day & reserved seats.
Architect was G. Albert Lansburgh.
Opened in Feb. 1928; closed in 1960. Architects were the Boller Brothers.
St. Louis' Missouri Theatre was designed by the firm of DeRosa & Pereira for Famous Players-Missouri (a subsidiary of Famous Players-Lasky).
Theatre opened November 8, 1920. Seating capacity was approximately 3600.
Theatre was last used in December, 1957.
Theatre was demolished in summer, 1959.
Office building was not “built in its place”, but was built in 1922 fronting Grand Avenue. Theatre auditorium was behind the office building. 1959 demolition was of auditorium only.
Theatre was later operated by the Skouras Bros., RKO, and Fanchon & Marco which evolved into Arthur Enterprises.