Douglass Theatre
4201 Finney Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63113
4201 Finney Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63113
No one has favorited this theater yet
Additional Info
Previous Names: Jest-A-Mere Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Douglass Theatre, at 4201 Finney Avenue, was opened on November 27, 1918 by Charles Pitman as the Jest-A-Mere Theatre. One of the theatres for the Black population in a time of segregation. The theatre was purchased in 1927 by Thomas James and was renamed the Douglass Theatre, after the Abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Reopening was on September 1, 1927 with Ralph Graves in “The Swell-Head” on the screen and a couple of vaudeville acts on the stage.
When the theatre opened, newspaper coverage said: “Entirely built by Colored labor, completion of big building is a triumph for the race; continuous fight made by unions to force Colored men off the job”.
Seating capacity listed as 850 at opening; reduced to 700 in 1934; reduced to 650 in 1950 (per Film Daily Year Book).
Located in St. Louis' Ville neighborhood, the Douglass Theatre apparently, per newspaper advertisements, was last open on April 22, 1962 screening Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8” & Kirk Douglas in “The Last Sunset”.
Contributed by
Jerry Alexander
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Jerry Alexander, there was another theatre on Finney at Pendleton called the Venus Theatre. It was listed as open prior to 1926 and closed in 1934. Do you have any information on the Venus Theatre?
Charles A. Pittman opened the Jest-A-Mere Theatre on November 27, 1918. Pittman was the only African American owner/builder of a new-build St. Louis movie theater at that time as labor unions reportedly tried to tamper with the construction of the venue.
Its grand reopening as the (Frederick) Douglass Theatre on September 1, 1927 with Ralph Graves in “The Swell-Head” supported by live vaudeville and selected film shorts in in photos. The venue added sound to remain viable. It closed at end of lease on April 22, 1962 with Elizabeth Taylor in “Butterfield 8” and, appropriately enough, “The Last Sunset” with Kirk Douglas.