Queens Theatre

jackfolluo on January 1, 2013 at 11:36 am

From the 1930s to its closing, the Queens theater was owned by Thomas Curley who also owned the Ashland theater in St. Louis. Katherine Curley, sister to Thomas Curley worked the box office during that period. The Queens long time manager was Eddie Keegan. During WW2 Keegan served in the Navy and his wife worked at the theater during that time. I started working there about 1941 dusting seats before the show for free passes, later part time as cleaning up between shows and cleaning the airdrome every morning in the summer. Every one smoked then and we had to pick each cigarette butt and kernel of corn out of the gravel floor outside. I also became the popcorn maker every evening, and later became an usher. I was about 16 when I quit. Great old neighborhood theater and good people to work with.

Every Thursday night (for a time) was dish night. What a time we had giving a different dish every Thursday night to the ladies who came to collect the whole set. During the show sometimes one of the dishes would slip off a ladies lap and clatter to the floor. This would be met with applause, whistles and laughter. Funny reaction.

                                      Jack Folluo
                

patrickgenna on June 17, 2011 at 9:42 pm

Hi Chuck1231 and JALex.

Regarding the Queens Theatre, it had a unique feature. It had an outdoor theatre on the east side of the building. This was a an open lot with a brick wall at its rear with a painted white screen.

During the summer, the Queens showed movies.
I am not sure why they did this unless it was too hot to sit inside. My father and I were there many times in the early 1950s sitting on folding chairs and folks try to move them when ushers said no.

In 2006, I stopped at the Queens (church).
The brick wall with its painted screen was still there. A woman from the church saw me and I said hello. We talked a bit and she told me that they were going to alter the front of the theatre building and add another (annex) building to where the outdoor theatre was. I guess they never got around to it. The woman told me that she knew nothing about the history of the theatre or its original name.

What a memory and thanks for the memories. Patrick

Chuck1231 on February 24, 2009 at 10:04 pm

Still a church but has had a whole new front put on the building. Even has a steeple on the front of the building.

Chuck1231 on November 29, 2004 at 7:39 pm

Actually the Queens was on the very corner of Maffitt and Marcus with the address of 4700-05 Maffitt.