Do you think it’s possible AMC would consider putting a theater at South County Center if/when the Crestwood closes, seeing how South County Center seems to be doing much better?
The Post-Dispatch just ran a story today (12/29/2011) that the Sears in Crestwood Plaza will close sometime next year (2012). It also says the owners have told many of the various artists who have been renting space in the mall that their leases will not be renewed in 2012. This can only mean the mall is going to be redeveloped, which means scrapped and totally redone. This also probably means this movie theater might not last much longer either.
Bill, you can also go to the Melvin Theater’s website (http://themelvintheater.com) and go to the Contact link. That might be the best way to get hold of them. Again, keep my posted.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the owners (I live in Southern California), so the only information I can give you is the Melvin Theater’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/themelvintheater
There’s a phone number and an email address on there. Give that a try an let me know how it goes…
By the way, how was the Melvin back when your family ran it? Was the neighborhood decent? What kind of turnout did you get? How were the crowds? What really brought them in?
Based on what I saw on Google Maps, the South Community Credit Union building now occupies the spot where the Crest Theater once stood. Of course, if I have that wrong, feel free to correct…politely…
Never went to this place but, from what I can recall, it was never one of the more popular Wehrenberg Theaters. Of course, if there are those who disagree, let them be heard…
I can make out the MA Interstate logo to the left of the door. Was the projection/concession building near the HQ building? If not, where was it on the property? This must have been a REALLY big lot to hold all that.
Norm, you’re right…although I haven’t been to NWP in quite a while, I have been reading about its demise. Really sad to see a formerly great place go totally down the tubes like that…
I went to the old Jamestown Twin once to see Flatliners back in 1990. The picture of the old twin in the overview kinda makes the theater look like an outlot, but I know it wasn’t. I believe you had to go into the mall to get to the theater, which is also the case with the current Jamestown 14.
Of course, if I got that wrong, feel free to correct…
Looking at the far left of the picture of the Crown, it looks like something shaped like a W…or maybe a crown…is on the roof. Was that true or am I just a victim of wishful thinking? :)
On a sad note, the parking lot you see in the Google image is exactly what the parking lot at Crestwood Plaza (Court) looks like most of the time. You can’t even go into that Dillard’s building anymore. What a shame…
Since this theater was originally opened by Mid-America Theaters, I’m assuming it was later operated by RKO-MidAmerica and, eventually, AMC. I’m also guessing AMC closed it when they opened the theater at Crestwood Plaza.
Thanks, Norm!! By the way, if you look at the top right of the photo, it looks like the word “ESQUIRE” in white lettering is trying to peek through. I believe I remember seeing that on that building in the 70s, but I wonder if anyone else remembers that…
In the street view, if you scroll around, you’ll see the West County Center mall. That is the former location of the Manchester Drive-In. Ironically, if you keep scrolling, you will also see the green cathedral roof of Wehrenberg’s Des Peres 14 Cine, which is on the other side of I-270 on Manchester Road.
Love the CINEMA I – II signage on this theater. I recall driving past it after it went to four screens and I believe the lettering had been changed to CINEMA I – IV. Aren’t Roman numerals cool?
I believe a correction needs to be made in the Additional Info section on the right. In that section, it says the previous operator for the Crestwood Plaza theater was General Cinema (GCC). I don’t think GCC ever had anything to do with this theater. It’s been AMC from Opening Day…right?
That’s the marquee I remember…but didn’t they have “ESQUIRE” above the left and right wings of the marquee? What happened to that?…or am I just not seeing it?
WOW! When was this picture taken? From the signs on the adjacent building, this has to be from the 1970s when Arthur Theaters still ran the place. There’s just not that much business at St. Andrews anymore. This is great!
Do you think it’s possible AMC would consider putting a theater at South County Center if/when the Crestwood closes, seeing how South County Center seems to be doing much better?
The Post-Dispatch just ran a story today (12/29/2011) that the Sears in Crestwood Plaza will close sometime next year (2012). It also says the owners have told many of the various artists who have been renting space in the mall that their leases will not be renewed in 2012. This can only mean the mall is going to be redeveloped, which means scrapped and totally redone. This also probably means this movie theater might not last much longer either.
Bill, you can also go to the Melvin Theater’s website (http://themelvintheater.com) and go to the Contact link. That might be the best way to get hold of them. Again, keep my posted.
Bill,
Unfortunately, I don’t know the owners (I live in Southern California), so the only information I can give you is the Melvin Theater’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/themelvintheater
There’s a phone number and an email address on there. Give that a try an let me know how it goes…
By the way, how was the Melvin back when your family ran it? Was the neighborhood decent? What kind of turnout did you get? How were the crowds? What really brought them in?
Based on what I saw on Google Maps, the South Community Credit Union building now occupies the spot where the Crest Theater once stood. Of course, if I have that wrong, feel free to correct…politely…
Never went to this place but, from what I can recall, it was never one of the more popular Wehrenberg Theaters. Of course, if there are those who disagree, let them be heard…
I can make out the MA Interstate logo to the left of the door. Was the projection/concession building near the HQ building? If not, where was it on the property? This must have been a REALLY big lot to hold all that.
Norm, you’re right…although I haven’t been to NWP in quite a while, I have been reading about its demise. Really sad to see a formerly great place go totally down the tubes like that…
Since this theater became a twin after opening as a single screen, shouldn’t the number of screens be 2 rather than 1? Just wondering…
Since this theater became a twin after opening as a single screen, shouldn’t the number of screens be 2 rather than 1? Just wondering…
I went to the old Jamestown Twin once to see Flatliners back in 1990. The picture of the old twin in the overview kinda makes the theater look like an outlot, but I know it wasn’t. I believe you had to go into the mall to get to the theater, which is also the case with the current Jamestown 14.
Of course, if I got that wrong, feel free to correct…
Looking at the far left of the picture of the Crown, it looks like something shaped like a W…or maybe a crown…is on the roof. Was that true or am I just a victim of wishful thinking? :)
I went to this place once to see Gremlins 2. That was around 1984-1985 and the theater was a discount house.
What I wouldn’t give to see a movie in this building one more time…this was such a GREAT movie theater!!!
On a sad note, the parking lot you see in the Google image is exactly what the parking lot at Crestwood Plaza (Court) looks like most of the time. You can’t even go into that Dillard’s building anymore. What a shame…
Since this theater was originally opened by Mid-America Theaters, I’m assuming it was later operated by RKO-MidAmerica and, eventually, AMC. I’m also guessing AMC closed it when they opened the theater at Crestwood Plaza.
Thanks, Norm!! By the way, if you look at the top right of the photo, it looks like the word “ESQUIRE” in white lettering is trying to peek through. I believe I remember seeing that on that building in the 70s, but I wonder if anyone else remembers that…
In the street view, if you scroll around, you’ll see the West County Center mall. That is the former location of the Manchester Drive-In. Ironically, if you keep scrolling, you will also see the green cathedral roof of Wehrenberg’s Des Peres 14 Cine, which is on the other side of I-270 on Manchester Road.
Love the CINEMA I – II signage on this theater. I recall driving past it after it went to four screens and I believe the lettering had been changed to CINEMA I – IV. Aren’t Roman numerals cool?
I believe a correction needs to be made in the Additional Info section on the right. In that section, it says the previous operator for the Crestwood Plaza theater was General Cinema (GCC). I don’t think GCC ever had anything to do with this theater. It’s been AMC from Opening Day…right?
Please feel free to correct if I got that wrong…
Was the box office to the right in this picture (which is too dark to see) or was it inside the theater?
As you can see, Northwest Plaza was directly across the street from this theater.
This is definitely a photo of the South City Cinema. The other two photos should be moved to the Sunset Hills Cinema page.
That’s the marquee I remember…but didn’t they have “ESQUIRE” above the left and right wings of the marquee? What happened to that?…or am I just not seeing it?
WOW! When was this picture taken? From the signs on the adjacent building, this has to be from the 1970s when Arthur Theaters still ran the place. There’s just not that much business at St. Andrews anymore. This is great!