Pageant Theatre
5851 Delmar Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63112
5851 Delmar Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63112
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The Pageant Theatre was opened on September 18, 1915 seating 1,400. It was actually the first stadium style theatre built in the St. Louis area. In 1939, the theatre was remodeled and seating reduced to 990 (and later reduced once again to 907).
It had a narrow entrance with a large vertical above the marquee. You went around the lobby to enter the theatre and when you came into the theatre you were actually in the middle of the auditorium, to your right you had to go up the steps to seating and to the left down the steps. There was a center aisle through the middle that took you to the other side of the auditorium.
The Pageant Theatre did a lot of road shows and reserved seat engagements. It was located just a short distance from the DeBallivere area and a few blocks from the University City Loop where the Tivoli and Varsity Theatres were located. With the decline in the neighborhood the Pageant Theatre closed in 1965 and was demolished in 1967.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
Boxoffice magazine reported the Pageant reduced its seating capacity to 878 from 1000 immediately prior to the hard-ticket engagement of “South Pacific” in 1958. This engagement was the first Todd-AO film exhibited in the St. Louis market.
JAlex, I know for a fact that the remodel took place for “Shoes of the Fisherman” and that seating at that time was 907. I worked the opening and the first three weeks of the run.
Problem here is that Pageant closed August 9, 1966…“Shoes” was not released until November, 1968.
During the early silent movie days, the Pageant Theatre had a ‘skydome’ open-air theatre which was located on the southeast corner of Delmar Boulevard and Laurel Street.
The aforementioned ‘skydome’ was originally known as the Crystal Airdome; in 1921 renamed the Pageant Skydome.
Theatre wasn’t built by Fanchon (not Franchon) & Marco; they didn’t arrive in St. Louis until 1933.
Mr. Alex did Warner Brothers operate this theatre sometime during the 20’s (Late)?
Is this the St. Louis theater that had the area first-run booking in 1959 of Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”? Might any St. Louisans (is that a word?!) know its local premiere date? JAlex? Chuck1231? Chris Utley?
No idea whatsoever, Mike. Way way way before my time. Norman Plant may know something.
Yes, it was the Pageant that had the Disney “Sleeping Beauty."
The run was from June 12 to September 17. Admission=$1.50.
Thanks, JAlex. I have another St. Louis question, so if you see this message, please contact me (email is in my profile).