Avalon Cinema

Originally part of the Franchon & Marco and later part of St. Louis Amusement/Arthur Theatres. Single floor theatre which seated 647. Closed after the Arthur Brothers Bankruptcy and later reopened by the Mosely Brothers. They maintained the theatre for a little under four years and let it run down. Started out as a subrun theatre and later tried an art policy before Arthur Brothers started a first run policy. With all the suburban theatres opening and Arthur Theatres mostly having city theatres the chain faltered.

Seating capacity for the Avalon Theatre is 625.

Pics of vacant Avalon.

http://www.cinematour.com/tour.php?db=us&id=1120

Great exterior, but why the heck would anyone wood panel a theatre lobby???????????

It was the '70s and, from what I've been told, a LOT of things happened in the '70s - in all seriousness, one of the bleakest periods, if not THE bleakest period ever, for American architecture...

The 70's were such a stagnant time for theatres. The neighborhood houses were in their last days as cable and VCR's started killing them one by one. I remember when Loews opened the 34th Street Showplace, which was the first new Manhattan theatres in eons. A few years later it was considered a white elephant in theatre design, dark and depressing.

The Avalon should be listed as a single screen.

This poor theatre was "remodeled" in 1977. I found a picture from 1972 showing it in it's original state. The theatre was sold on the courthouse steps as Arthur Enterprises went bankrupt shortly after they did this 70's hack job. It was purchased by the brother of the Hi-Pointe. Later after his death, his son continued operation until John Moseley started a sub run policy there. At first, John cleaned up the theatre, but as the continuing battles with the landlord, the theatre suffered. He shut down in the spring of 1999. I later pulled the booth equipment and have tried since to get the city to work with a plan to reuse it. Since it had ceased operation it lost it's grandfather status and therefore all the systems would have to be brought up to current code.

The remodeling was done in 1972. Who exactly is the "brother of the Hi-Pointe? Who died and who continued operation? Can anyone answer these questions? Has John Moseley ever had a lengthy success with any venture?

Avalon opened on Sept. 11, 1935 with a 2nd-run policy. Architects of record were A.F. and Arthur Stauder. Opening publicity touted a seating capacity of 1000. Avalon originally operated by Alexander Pappas and Bess Schulter who at the time also operated the Columbia, Powhatan, Roxy and White Way. F&M/SLAC took over operation in 1942.
Final date of operation Jan. 24, 1999.

The Avalon should be listed as a single screen theatre.

i am looking to restore this theater any one else that is interested please email me @ shadyrow@gmail.com and if you have any more info and pictures please send them to me

I live in the neighborhood of this theater and I really would love to do something with it, although I don't know how. Anyone who could offer any advice, or who wants to start it up let me know.

mellambert@gmail.com

Here is a photo of the Avalon Cinema in St. Louis.

This website has some photos from 2004 of the Avalon Cinema. Click each photo to enlarge it.

I believe the city is finally working to condemn the building. They're are working to find an interested party to restore the theatre, but the owner is flat out crazy. I'm not talking eccentric, honestly lost in his own little world.

My previous post above was meant to say that the owner of the Avalon is the nephew of the owner of the Hi-Pointe. It was last operated by John Moseley, who runs a sub-run house in St. Charles. Yes, he has been involved in a few theatres over the years, but considering the profit margins of a sub-run theatre, I hardly find the closure of a few shocking,

Here are additional photos of the Avalon:
http://www.builtstlouis.net/avalon.html

I have known Greg (the owner) for about 27 years. I have worked at this theater on and off all throughout my teenage years. When one of the kids had money problems or a broken bike, he would let them clean up and pay them extra to get the bike repaired. He was the smartest sports fan I have ever met. He knew every players history and their scores. I met my first girlfriend (Now my wife) while working there. I was born and raised in that neighborhood and the theater was a hang out for a select number of us kids. as I think back to the days when "The Last Temptation of Christ" Played there, the atmosphere really got scarry. The neighboring catholic church would picket the front of the theater and at times they would get mean and at times violent with the customers and the police were often called. This caused alot of the neighbor's and local customers that were catholic not to come to the theater anymore. When Mosley rented this property, he opened it as a dollar show. We all have seen what happens to a theater at that point. The Ritz, Granada and the Melvin are perfect examples. He brought the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" into the theater and it has Never been the same ever since. They totally demolished that place.
I would really like to have a good quality photo of that place before the remodel in 1977. If anyone has any pictures please send them to me @ Fdisc@aol.com Thank you.

I am not denying that the Rocky Horror crowd tends to damage theatres, but Greg himself booked the title in the theatre himself. The owner of this theatre allowed it to decline and then leased it to John Moseley. John tried to clean it up after he got it, but the lack of cooperation with the owner was to much to take. The owner doesn't have a phone and all contact had to be made via written notes taped to his mail box to get a return call.
Since the theatre closed in 1999, the owner has given sale prices of $500,000, later a million, and finally 1.5 million. He has never once even listed the property for sale. The city currently has it condemned with it's future uncertain.

Yea, you are correct about everything. I remember several years back he was holding out for Burger King, they followed his jump in price twice and later backed out. Do you live in the area? Greg is still seen walking the property on saturday afternoons. He chooses not to drive, and walks to the theater from his apartment in Clayton.
He also works during the school season as a coach at a local Highschool.

Shots of the exterior of the theater from 10/11/2008. The area was a mosquito infested mess as there are pools of water and trash blocking each of the emergency exit crash doors that are located down long ramps on each side of the theater.
I would like to state that Rocky Horror crowds do not equal a destroyed theater. My cast of Midnight Madness performs in Chicago's beautiful Music Box Theater and we work very hard to make sure that our theater does not sustain any damage and is kept clean.

Does anyone know what's going on here? I notice the concrete barriers after having a condemned sign up. Are they indeed tearing it down?

From the looks of the roof and the rear of the building lately if they don't demolish the Avalon it is going to fall in.

1985 photo of the Avalon when it was still in operation.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c25%2c3%2c-1&SortField=ProductName+DESC%2cProductName&catpageindex=12&ProductID=29271

The Avalon has been added to the Landmarks Association of St. Louis listing of Most Endangered Buildings for 2009.

In fact, it was at the top of the list:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/story/DDB1670441A3E903862575B70077A47F?OpenDocument

Being on the list didn't help the DeVille Motor Lodge on Lindell, it is scheduled for demolition for parking for the Archdiocese.

Here is a recent photo of the Avalon.

I worked here as an usher in the mid 60's for 80 cents an hour when it was owned by Arthur Ent. and managed by Mr. Hollis Schurmeyer. Years later I was relief mgr. for Schurmeyer during his vacations. I also seem to recall a Harlan (Waddy) Wadsack & a Mary Ann O'Brian who also worked many, many years there and seemed like parts of the furniture. The Avalon, during that period of the 60's, was the real "coming of age" spot for hundreds of teens. When Arthur Ent. sold the Avalon is when the true end, began.

Available for $1-million.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/F5373B74EC58C85A8625761F007CD000?OpenDocument

does anyone know? How long would it take the city to take more control? Does greg still own it currently, or has it been sold??

Web page listed on 8/28/09 is no longer available.

The realtor no longer lists the property for sale either...

http://www.homesandland.com/Real_Estate/MO/City/St_Louis/ListingId/13803693.html

Sounds like he's way behind on taxes, among other legal problems he has. I'm sure if they haven't already, the city is going to take the property.

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2007-07-11/news/fade-to-black/full