Theatre was open as early as May 1932 as the CARDINAL, with a newspaper ad appearing in the Post-Dispatch. Theatre was renamed the JANET and, as such, opened on April 23, 1938. The Arthur chain did not operate this theatre.
Al Lyons, who was musical director at the Los Angeles Orpheum in the 1940s and who earlier had been an emcee for the stage shows at the Fox in St. Louis said in an interview published in St. Louis in 1931: “There was a small theater, the West Adams, which was so conservative that it didn’t even have music with its pictures. I induced the owner to permit me to rent a piano and become his sole orchestra—for $12 a week. Those were happy—and busy—days. Worked from noon until midnight, playing to the pictures. I rumbled the bass when thunder pealed. I pounded the sides of the piano to simulate the hoof beats of galloping horses. I played songs about moonlight and daisies and purling brooks. I was in truth, delivering all the sound effects the action on the screen demanded.
While the layout of the Ambassador and Oriental Theatres were somewhat similar, the decoration of the two certainly weren’t. The Ambassador had a “Spanish Carnival” design, the Oriental, as Ben Hall described it, a “hasheesh-dream décor.”
The description says “it mostly ran first-run movies.”
It was not until 1968 the Granada had a f-r film, and that was a multiple-theatre run. The Granada was a second-run house until that time. An exceptional house, to be sure, when first opened it was the equivalent of a “try-out” house with successful stage acts moving down to the Skouras Brothers' prime house, the Ambassador.
Theatre located at 1417 Cass. Earliest reference found was in 1916 as the ACME. In 1922 it was known as the WILSON. Last reference found for being open was in 1929 and known as the COLONIAL. Seating capacity of 283.
The theatre was demolished years ago. The building which so many believe was the theatre is/was immediately to the north of the theatre. The parking lot to the right of the mistaken theatre is the site of the theatre building.
“This Is It” turned out to be the final public theatrical use of the theatre. The production ran from 2/7 to 2/12, 1956. After this, the house was subleased to a Theatre and Television school, which soon folded. After this the theatre was used as a revival church for a number of years. Theatre was demolished in fall of 1970.
The last ad I’ve seen for the Pageant was that of January 7, 1968, a double bill of “The Hills Ran Red” and “Island of Terror.” A demolition permit for the structure was issued in 1975.
Another name to be added to the list: theatre was known as the PLAYERS from September 1916 to April 1917. Renamed for the Players stock company which was based there. In April 1917 the theatre was closed and was effectively rebuilt (from two balconies to one) and reopened in March 1919 as the Rialto.
The theatre was a little more than half-way out the block, around where the roof sign reading “Globe” is seen.
Theatre was open as early as May 1932 as the CARDINAL, with a newspaper ad appearing in the Post-Dispatch. Theatre was renamed the JANET and, as such, opened on April 23, 1938. The Arthur chain did not operate this theatre.
Having lived in the area 1981-1989 I don’t recall “Deep Throat” running 10 years.
The rewards program will shift to that of Marcus on May 17. Bit by bit the Wehrenberg heritage disappears.
Al Lyons, who was musical director at the Los Angeles Orpheum in the 1940s and who earlier had been an emcee for the stage shows at the Fox in St. Louis said in an interview published in St. Louis in 1931: “There was a small theater, the West Adams, which was so conservative that it didn’t even have music with its pictures. I induced the owner to permit me to rent a piano and become his sole orchestra—for $12 a week. Those were happy—and busy—days. Worked from noon until midnight, playing to the pictures. I rumbled the bass when thunder pealed. I pounded the sides of the piano to simulate the hoof beats of galloping horses. I played songs about moonlight and daisies and purling brooks. I was in truth, delivering all the sound effects the action on the screen demanded.
It has been announced the theatre will be demolished by the City of Alton.
1927 is the correct year. The engagement of “Gorilla” was billed as the world premiere.
While the layout of the Ambassador and Oriental Theatres were somewhat similar, the decoration of the two certainly weren’t. The Ambassador had a “Spanish Carnival” design, the Oriental, as Ben Hall described it, a “hasheesh-dream décor.”
The description says “it mostly ran first-run movies.” It was not until 1968 the Granada had a f-r film, and that was a multiple-theatre run. The Granada was a second-run house until that time. An exceptional house, to be sure, when first opened it was the equivalent of a “try-out” house with successful stage acts moving down to the Skouras Brothers' prime house, the Ambassador.
March 2nd to 8th, 1929.
Theatre didn’t become part of the St. Louis Amusement chain until 1926, four years after opening.
The last ad I’ve spotted for the Victory was in February, 1972.
Astonishing that not a single photo of the interior appears on the photo page.
When the Stanley opened in 1928 there was no Radio City (Music Hall)!
Theatre located at 1417 Cass. Earliest reference found was in 1916 as the ACME. In 1922 it was known as the WILSON. Last reference found for being open was in 1929 and known as the COLONIAL. Seating capacity of 283.
Not similar to the (Loew’s) State in St. Louis, which was designed by Thomas Lamb. I saw many films at this theatre, from “Arena” to “Autopsy.”
The theatre was demolished years ago. The building which so many believe was the theatre is/was immediately to the north of the theatre. The parking lot to the right of the mistaken theatre is the site of the theatre building.
“This Is It” turned out to be the final public theatrical use of the theatre. The production ran from 2/7 to 2/12, 1956. After this, the house was subleased to a Theatre and Television school, which soon folded. After this the theatre was used as a revival church for a number of years. Theatre was demolished in fall of 1970.
The church has moved on. The paint is peeling from the bricks. It would seem to be a matter of time….
Checked out yesterday, the building continues to stand.
Checked out yesterday…there is evidence of a fire around one of the former front windows, but the structure remains. The tree, however, is gone.
The last ad I’ve seen for the Pageant was that of January 7, 1968, a double bill of “The Hills Ran Red” and “Island of Terror.” A demolition permit for the structure was issued in 1975.
Unfortunately this is an ad for the Columbia Theatre downtown, not the one on The Hill.
Another name to be added to the list: theatre was known as the PLAYERS from September 1916 to April 1917. Renamed for the Players stock company which was based there. In April 1917 the theatre was closed and was effectively rebuilt (from two balconies to one) and reopened in March 1919 as the Rialto.
“Cactus Flower” played at the Creve Coeur, Grandview and South County. None of these theatres exists today.