Broadway Theatre

Cape Girardeau, MO

805 Broadway Avenue

, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Storage
Seats:	1211
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Robert O. Boller
Firm:	Boller Brothers

One of four theatres that lined Broadway at one time in downtown Cape Girardeau. This Boller Brothers theatre was one of the more elegant that lined Broadway with the double towers on each side of the front with a large vertical sign. Elaborate plasterwork adorned the lobby and the auditorium. Detail work around the procenium with dark red velvet drapes over the stage.

Another of the small town movie palaces of a by-gone era. The Broadway opened in 1929 and closed in 1977.

Contributed by Chuck Van Bibber

YOUR COMMENTS

Who can I contact about buying?

posted by nbm on Mar 5, 2006 at 5:13am

Its current facade is certainly not much to look at. It seems to be in use as storage presently. Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ctid8225/

posted by BWChicago on Aug 5, 2007 at 8:28pm

There's a HUGE basement underneath the building that stretches from under the sidewalk all the way back to the rear. There are numerous dressing and storage rooms for when the threatre had live shows in the 1920s and 30s. There is also a small set of rooms above the enterance that were either offices or an apartment.

The balcony was abandoned in the 1970s and the chairs were removed shortly after from the upper level.

posted by 35divmp on Oct 5, 2007 at 11:20pm

This theatre was opperating as a cinema until the spring of 1984. In 1986 it was occupied by a church. After about two years, the church either disolved, or moved to a new location. The church took generally good care of the buildig. While they occupied it, the orchestra pit was covered over with stairs leading up to the stage, and a plaster gargoile was removed from the crown of the proscenium arch. The interior was also painted a gleaming " White". The building remained vacant until about 1990, when it reopened as a dollar cinema. It closed after just six months and has sat deteriorating ever since; along with just about every other building on the street.

posted by former resident on Nov 6, 2008 at 2:05pm

1985 photo of the Broadway Theatre. From this photo you can see at the top where the new facade leaves off.
http://americanclassicimages.com/Default.aspx?tabid=141&txtSearch=CATAdvancedSearch1%2c25%2c3%2c-1&SortField=ProductName+DESC%2cProductName&ProductID=29089

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 6, 2009 at 2:19pm

You can also see from the marquee that it was operated by Kerasotes.

posted by Chuck1231 on Apr 6, 2009 at 2:20pm

Here is an October 1960 article about the closing of the theater:
http://tinyurl.com/ycv6s7l

posted by ken mc on Dec 24, 2009 at 3:26pm

It was open again by 1961 and was operated by NT&T Amusement Co. and later by Kerasotes until they opened the Town Plaza 5 Cinemas. I believe that was in 1995. So 1960 wasn't the end of the Broadway.

posted by Chuck1231 on Dec 24, 2009 at 7:54pm

This opened on December 24th, 1921. Six-page ad section in the paper can be seen at http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4CorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=stMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4434%2C2481290

posted by Mike Rivest on Jan 31, 2010 at 3:17pm

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