Apache Theatre
2312 South Broadway,
St. Louis,
MO
63104
2312 South Broadway,
St. Louis,
MO
63104
1 person
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Name change from New Shenandoah to Apache took place in January 1955.
Header needs the address changed to 2227 So. Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. 63104
There goes another error by Boxoffice. The theatre was not destroyed by a fire. We were there when the bulldozer to her down.
Yes, it would if you can send me it as an attachment to
James, this was an actual bust made of an Indian, probably made of plaster and then painted. This has been 40+ years ago. I do have a picture of the Indian if anyone thinks it would help.
Lisa
responce to fujiwest
When the New Shenandoah was converted to the Apache on the marque in the very front there was an indian head in neon. Could this be what you were thinking of?
James Grebe
On the ohter hand, there was a Thom’s Ponticaa dealership that always had Indian Tom-Toms in their comercials beating. It may have come from there. I do not remember an Indian bust at the Apache.
James
I’m wondering if anyone remembered an Indian bust located somewhere in the theater? I have an Indian bust that my dad said came from an old theater in St. Louis. After my dad aquired it, he had it displayed in Carson Pontiac’s showroom on Manchester Rd.
I wonder who their source was?
I didn’t remember this either, which is why I attributed the source of the info.
Hi Jerry,
I lived down close to there at 815 Geyerthen and I do not remember a fire but I do not think it would have destroyed the entire building or I would remeber that. But then I am an old guy with sloppy memory.
James
The last ad that appeared in a newspaper was on January 22, 1961. The advertised double-bill was “The Magnificent Seven” with “A Dog’s Best Friend.”
Boxoffice magazine, on February 20th, 1961 reported the theatre was destroyed by fire, supposedly started by vandals.
Sorry Pat, I never worked at a hospital. I am a commercial pilot for a major airline.
Charles, Are you the Chuck VanBibber that worked at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital?
Also, thanks for the update. I forgot how the Kohm’s spelled their name. The Shenandoah was a place where everyone knew everybody.
Pat
Pat, your thoughts and memories cleared up some names that I could not remember. I tried for the life of me to recall the name of the restaurant next door to the north of the Apache, La Plant’s. They had the best Ice Cream and Malteds. By the time the Apache closed the relm was under the son in laws of the Kohm’s, Louis and Jules Jablanov. They went on to rename the Kohm Circuit Mid America Theatres. Ella was my grandmother and was the last to manage the Apache until its closing. I spent the last day there with her and helped in the concession stand. Do you remember the red neon in the cove of the lobby behind the seating in the lobby above the concession stand and rest rooms. It gave such a warm feeling.
Reading about the Shenandoah and Apache Theatre brings back so many memories. I remember it well because I spent so much time there. Charlie and Jim, most of your memories about the theatre are on target, but I wish to add a little more. First of all I remember Ella Savage well, She sold tickets and worked the concession stand. She was a nice lady. She wasn’t the manager, my dad was. Not sure if you remember Charlie O'Neal, but he was the manager, and some of the ushers I remember are Charlie Spitzfaden, Delmar Crowley, and a mexican guy I remember named Cedro. The entry lobby was narrow and long and there were three rows of seats. I remember the wine colored, velvet curtains that were hanging behind the last row of seats above the partition wall. When you entered the theatre from the entry lobby, there was an office on the left which had a desk, chair and safe along with movie posters (sure wish I had them now), then the concession stand, then the ladies bathroom, and further down the men’s bathroom, and next to that was an exit door to the alley just a tad north of Shenandoah. I remember the “show” being packed and people lining up to get in. Also remember the closed circuit broadcast and my dad telling stories about it. The projection booth was upstairs and at that time it was state of the art. There was a long hallway with two exit doors on the east side of the theatre and then another hallway taking you to Broadway. Not sure if my recollection is 100% accurate, but I remember McCracken’s Drug Store (later Gross' Drug Store) on the corner, above the drug store was Dr. Gum’s office and Lou Kohm’s office (he was my dad’s boss), then the theatre, and other businesses were LaPlante’s Cafeteria, Dr. Mazur’s office, the cleaners, Baby Heaven, Russo’s grocery store, and the candy jewelry store on the corner. Seems to me there was a small bar in that row somewhere, but I can’t remember where. There are a lot of memories and a lot of ghosts that still remain even though the theatre has long been gone. It’s great going back down memory lane and sharing history with others. Broadway Rose, Jack McCracken and the Golden Gloves, the Jeannie Black Murder, the streetcars, all those are memories. Please feel free to write me direct at Pat O'Neal Wiseman
Here is a vintage photo of the New Shenandoah that later was renamed the Apache. On the second floor above the entrance was our family doctor’s office. You entered the doorway that led to the second floor between two poster cases on the south side of the outer lobby to the left of the free standing box office.
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Hi Charles,
Can you write to me direct.
I have much to talk to you about my memories there.
Thanks
JamesGrebe
James, the description of the Apache/New Shenandoah and the concession lcoation was before it was remodeled and renamed the Apache. The concession was relocated to the lobby in front of where the old doors to the concession area used to be. If you recall the white haired lady that sold the tickets then you would be familiar with my grandmother. (Ella Savage) She worked for the Kohm theatres for years, she retired when the Apache closed because of the Koskiusko Redevelopment. The Apache was also the much larger of the the theatres along South Broadway and the last one to close. By then the Little Broadway, The Family and the Peerless were already closed. The main reason that Sam renamed it the Apache was because that with it starting with the letter A it would be among the first theatres listed in the neighborhood theatre directory in both the Post and Globe newspapers. The Peerless was much smaller, you bought your ticket from the center exterior box office and went in the doors on each side to a small lobby and then directly behind the lobby was the theatre itself. On the Apache above the outside box office area the second floor contained a doctor’s office for many years with the doorway next to the south poster cases. Gross Rexall Drugs was on the corner next to the theatre entrance and when the theatre closed the Rexall moved to Arsenal and California. There was also the restaurant and ice cream parlor right next doo to the Apache entrance, I don’t recall the name, but you could go from the exit door in the long lobby and enter the ice cream parlor through the back entrance. There was a walkway between the theatre and the buildings that lined South Broadway. Does that bring back some memories? I don’t recall much about the closed circuit boxing matches at the Apache but do recall them being held at the Loew’s State downtown. I was quite young then. I do remember the lines would stretch all the way from Broadway to Seventh Street on Friday’s, Saturdays and Sundays. None of the old theatres along South Broadway had balconys, I think the closest theatre with a balcony was the Maryland on 13th Street.
THe Apache/New Shenandoah was the classier of the Soulard S. Broaadway theatres. The difference between the Peerless and the Apache is that the Apache had upholstered seats where the Peerless had only wood. The Apache held the first closed circuit TV broadcast on the movie screen of a well publisided boxing match. The consession stand was in a separate room from the theatre and the drikning fountain was tiled with 2 drinkers.. Gene Smith was also a usher there also in the 1950.s.
Interested in talking to anyone about this theatre and the Peerless.
JamesGrebe