Esquire Theater

The Esquire opened as part of the Komm Theatres of St. Louis in 1925. At the time it was on the outskirts of the city. It originaly opened as a single screen seating 1500 with a decent sized balcony. The theatre became the flagship of the Mid America Theatres when the son in laws of Samuel Komm took over the circuit after his death. (Louis and Jules Jablonov)The Esquire was originally a second run house with some minor first run pictures. It ran its features day and date with the Ritz, Norside and Empress. The Esquire was always a big draw and very high grossing theatre. The Mid America Circuit remodeled in the mid 60's and turned the balcony into two more
audiroriums and it became the Esquire 3, the main floor retained its
large screen and the decor pretty much stayed the same. Later there was another auditorium added to the east side of the theatre and it became the Esquire 4. The unique thing about auditorium 4 was that the projection booth was enclosed in glass in the lobby and you could see the projectionist running the projectors. When Mid America was sold to AMC the Auditorium 4 was redone and added on making it into four theatres and making it the Esquire 7. The Esquire has always been one of the top grossing theatres in the St. Louis market. Just 10 blocks to the east is the only continious running theatre inside the city limits, the Hi-Pointe. Just a block to the west and around the corner from the Esquire was the Richmond Theatre, long closed. The main auditorium of the Esquire even though revamed into a multiplex still has that old theatre atmosphere. The big neon marquee has been retained jutting out on Clayton Road. The theatre still has its outside box office. The only protection from the outside weather is when you are under the large marquee. There are always long lines at the Esquire. Some of the movies to premiere at the Esquire were Star Wars Episode 1, Batman, Ed Wood and Jurassic Park in the large main auditorium on the large 60 foot screen.
When a big movie opens in St. Louis you can be sure that the Esquire will be sold out. One certain reason is the perfect sound system. One might argue that the newer suburban megalpexes have a better system, but they'd be wrong. The crowds at the Esquire are the most fun and most diverse in the Metropolitan area. The Esquire still retains that old Movie Palace atmosphere.
Also the district offices for AMC are located at the Esquire.

Forgot to give total seating capacity for the Esquire 7 is 2202.

YES, the Esquire is a St. Louis Metro favcrite! I am in my 50's and I remember very well as a child the big trip to St. Louis from Belleville, IL to see the latest movies at the Esquire. Glad to hear that the Esquire still has retained its old Movie Palace atomsphere. Phil Waigand

Architect was Robert Boller.

Opened November 8, 1939.

Built and operated for many years by Sam Schucart.

I find it stange that you list Robert Boller as the architect. From the Boller Brothers Architectual website the only theatre in St. Louis that was designed by the Boller Brothers listed is the Granada Theatre at 4519 Gravois. It even states that the only St. Louis theatre designed by them in St. Louis was the Granada.

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".

I stand corrected on this, the Esquire according to the Boller Brothers Manuscripts listed with the Western Historial Manuscripts Collection lists 54 pages for the Equire theatre and built for the owner Mr. Sam Shuhart. Original seating capacity was 1850 and construction was started in 1938 and completed in 1939. Makes me wonder what other informtaion that the St. Louis Library has that is incorrect.

Indeed, Tom Terry did play the Fox WUrli. If he played an electronic at the Esquire it may have been an early Hammond.
JamesGrebe pianoman@accessus.net

Theatre became exclusive first-run on December 25, 1955 with "Guys and Dolls."

Here is a 2006 photo of the Esquire Theater.

This theatre, along with the Creve Coeur Cinema, is the theatre that made me love movies. Some of my happiest memories have been spent at this theatre. Having said that, it's time for a makeover! I last went here in Summer 04 for Spider-Man 2 and, sadly, it seemed like the old place was starting to fade just a bit. Hopefully AMC will buy the building next door so they can remodel the place into a multi-level theatre with more screens (they've got a prime example on how to achieve this with their AMC Empire 25 plex in NYC).

I was home in St. Louis on 6/21/07 and tried to catch Fantastic Four here assuming it would be in the main auditorium but Shrek The Third was there instead WTF?!) Oh well...I'll catch my beloved some other time.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a picture of the main auditorium city scene on the wall. I was there last night and my "girlfriend" said she would like something like that and I should make one on a smaller scale for a house wall. Or if anyone knows where something just like it exists already to buy. It is really cool.

Have you contacted AMC about it? Their regional offices are at the rear of the structure.

Nope, I didn't, but didn't their offices used to be under the De Peres Cine. They may know where/how I could get a duplicate or something. I may try that thanks.

The Des Peres offices are those of Wehrenberg, not AMC.

Correcting the entry of 9/22/05:

The Esquire, because of a booking-jam in the first-run theatres, presented the first run of "Guys and Dolls" for nine weeks beginning 12/25/55. After this engagement, returned to the previous policy of second-run films.

In September 1956 the Esquire officially joined the ranks of first-run theatres with a booking of "Run for the Sun."

This theatre hosted the premiere of the film Snipes, starring St. Louis native Nelly, on September 3rd, 2002. Footage of the premiere can be found on the film's DVD.

This was the Esquire in 2004.

1985 photo of the Esquire Theatre.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c25%2c3%2c-1&SortField=ProductName+DESC%2cProductName&catpageindex=15&ProductID=29254

Nice pic of "the good old days." Wish they took another (or wider) shot to let us see what was showing on Screen 4.

Are there any interior pictures of this place from the 50's - early 80's floating around cyberspace? I'd love to see a picture of the main auditorium (w/the original curtain & floodlights) from those days.

This week marks the Esquire's 70th Anniversary. According to CinemaTour records, the theatre opened on November 8, 1939.

Here's to you, Esquire - the movie theatre that made me love the movies!