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Melvin Theatre

St. Louis, MO

2912 Chippewa Street

, St. Louis, MO 63118 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	481
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Theodore Degenhardt
Firm:	Unknown

The Melvin Theatre opened in 1914 and seated 481. It opened as an indepedent theatre and remained that way until its closing in the 1980s. It only had two owners. One of the more successful of the neighborhood theatres located in the Dutch Town area of south St. Louis. Just a block away from the Yale theatre on Minnesota and within walking distance from the much larger Melba on South Grand. Even until its closing in 1979 the box office was in the inside lobby and the tickets were on large rolls hung above the cashier. The marquee had no current attraction lettering on it it just simply said Melvin Theatre on all three sides.

The auditorium had two aisles with the larger seating section running down the middle and about four seats on the side aisles. The rest rooms were located on the second floor above the lobby of the theatre.

Bill Miller bought the theatre in 1972 and it was gutted and remodeled, replacing the screen, the sound system, the seats and a new concession stand but kept that old box office with the rolls of tickets.

Contributed by Charles Van Bibber

YOUR COMMENTS

I lived in St. Louis briefly in the mid 1980's and seem to recall that the Melvin was still open as a $1 house. Drove by it a couple of times. Looked like a pretty nice, well kept little theater.

posted by TomC on Apr 1, 2004 at 5:54am

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.

posted by JAlex on May 4, 2004 at 5:45am

September 1981 the night before my first day in high school I saw Clash Of The Titans for $1. That was the last time I ever saw a film at the Melvin. My friends and I fondly referred to the place as the "Smellvin".

posted by Pat Mason on Sep 24, 2004 at 2:42pm

he Melvin was one of those theatres that used to give out dishes and things as attendance prizes (Tuesday or Wednsday). My aunt & uncle used to go there just to collect the dishes. Yes. it was called the "Smelvin".
JamesGrebe pianoman@accessus.net

posted by James Grebe on Feb 25, 2005 at 5:11am

My mother went to the Melvin as a young woman and took us there as children. As I grew up, I used to go with my classmates at school. I used to love to eat the kosher dill pickles sold from a big jar at the concession counter. Wonderful memories...

Connie C

posted by Connie C on Mar 2, 2005 at 1:14pm

My father (Bill Miller) purchased the Melvin in 1972 and we opened in '73. I believe the first movie was the Poseidon Adventure. We sold the theatre in 1977. A lot of work for a 9-year-old projectionist, but good memories that I will never forget!!!

Bill M

posted by Bill M on May 24, 2005 at 9:58am

Bill M. I knew your father rather well. He helped put on the Miss Granite City Pageant at the Washington Theatre during the early 70's.
He also went on to manage the Granada Theatre for the short time that is was operated by BAC. Drop me an email sometime.
charlesvanbibber@msn.com
Also here a link to a photo of the Melvin Theatre.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/Chuck1231/St%20Louis%20Theatres/MelvinTheatreSTLMo.jpg

posted by Chuck1231 on Jun 16, 2005 at 5:08pm

Charles. I believe we met as I recall helping my father with the pageant and we met with you and a partner of yours at your theatre. The Melvin Theatre was home for me for 4 years and my roomates were two enormous (remember I was 9-12 years old) carbon arc Peerless Projectors operating 20 minute cast iron reels that were as loyal as friends could be and I remember licking the tip of my fingers between reels so I could replace the carbon rods. Life was good when I had a full carbon rod but many times I had to pull from the bucket. I've searched for newspaper or any media during our run but I was unsucessful. I am appreciative of any suggestions.

Bill Miller

posted by Bill M on Jun 22, 2005 at 9:05am

the Melvin theater was last owned (before being sold to the church)by Herman carnell,who also owned the kingsland,and still ownes the melba in de soto.the melvin was still running in the early 90's as a $1 house.

posted by maharet on Oct 23, 2007 at 9:03am

My niece's stepfather Tom managed the place before it closed in the 90's...I seem to recall the last film I saw there was "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure".

posted by Kerry M on Feb 17, 2008 at 11:56pm

This is Melvin in 1986.

posted by Lost Memory on Jul 16, 2008 at 10:45am

Here is a 2000 photo of the Melvin Theater building being used as a church.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 18, 2008 at 10:23am

The same church is still in the Melvin today although the building that Bill Miller and his family lived in has been demolished.

posted by Chuck1231 on Mar 30, 2009 at 5:32pm

1985 photo of the Melvin Theatre
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c25%2c3%2c-1&SortField=ProductName+DESC%2cProductName&catpageindex=7&ProductID=29302

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 6, 2009 at 10:29am

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