Louis K. Ansell Interests incorporated as U-City Theatres Corporation in 1935 with the purpose of converting a terra cotta retail building at 6215-6217 into the U-City Theater to the plans of Bruce F. Barnes. That project foundered and they tried again here at 6608-6612 Delmar again with plans by Bruce F. Barnes and with a new name, The Varsity. The theater would be the company’s third along with the acquired Ritz and Empress.
The Varsity Theater launched here on a 15-year lease opening December 5, 1935 with “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Final operators Grace Viviano Piccione and Peter Piccione operated the venue from 1960 until January 3, 1988 closing appropriately with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a film that first played the Varsity in 1976 before playing every weekend from May 1978 to its 1988 closure. The space was almost immediately converted to a short-lived Medicare-Glaser Drug Store (picture in photos) followed by the Vintage Vinyl record store.
Charles Arthur Kalbfell and his wife spent $15,000 to build the Pauline Theater in 1915 on behalf of his independent Echo-Pauline Amusement Company. The Pauline Theater had a neighboring airdome that operated at least until 1928 in the warm summer months. In 1917, the theater is listed as the Echo-Pauline Theater.
Meanwhile, Charles' brother, Howard T., had previously opened the Robin Theater while brother Arthur helped operate the Pauline Theater. The city forced the closure of the Robin Theater in 1947 due to major safety concerns. The Pauline Theater closed with Arthur in poor physical health on April 15, 1956 with “Honky Tonk” and “Billy, the Kid”. The theater would immediately be used as a house of worship and Arthur Kalbell passed away before year’s end.
The independent Echo-Pauline Amusement Company operated by the Kalbell family opened the Robin Theater and then the Pauline Theater. The Robin Theater opened in 1910 at the corner or Harney and Robin in the Walnut Park neighborhood of St. Louis in an existing building. The theatre opened with vaudeville with short films in the programming mix. Charles Arthur Kalbfell and his wife spent $15,000 to build the Pauline Theater in 1915
The trade press reports installation of a new Minusa Gold Fibre screen and new projectors as the Robin Theatre goes almost exclusively to motion pictures. New operators in 1928/9 switch the silent house to talking pictures. The Kalbells returned to operate the theater.
On April 2, 1947, the theater paid for its annual operating license only to be shut down five days later over a fire code restriction put in by the city. The city condemned the theater and ordered is demolition within 7 days. The Kallbells lost their legal battle on appeal to the State Supreme Court making the last showing there as “The Showoff” on April 5, 1947.
Told not to reopen the theater, the building remained dark. Tthe vacant theater was damaged by a fire on September 6, 1952 (image in photos) and was eventually demolished. The Kalbells later closed the Pauline Theater on April 15, 1956 ending the Echo-Pauline Amusement Co.
You can leave the Charles Van Bibber entry above. My own research would suggest a slightly different take with the builder, the address, the status of the venue, and some of the basic facts reworked. So in case you want a slightly different take, here goes:
William B. Powhatan opened on Sutton in the summer of 1909 as the Powhatan Airdome. Then in 1910, operator/owner William B. Powhatan was arrested for not paying the $20 monthly license to run a nickelodeon. And I’m sure he’d be surprised to see that Franchon & Marco gets credit here for building this theater since they didn’t but they also didn’t have to pay his bail, either.
Powhatan built a hardtop theater next door to the Airdome in 1913 becoming the Powhatan Theater & Airdome. This 1913 configuration was at 3111-3115 Sutton Boulevard. (It’s very possible that the 1909-1912 Airdome address was 3107 Sutton leading to the confusion of the address above and the directory note.) The St. Louis Meramec Railroad Company operated an electrical rail service that ran from downtown St. Louis to the Sutton Loop. It ran right past the Powhatan Theater and Airdome. The Manchester Line gaveth - as the Powhatan was able to get live vaudeville performers from St. Louis thanks to the convenient rail service that ran all night - and it tooketh away when Mr. Powhatan left his glass lantern song slides on the trolley one day likely having picked them up in St. Louis at the distributor’s office before losing them. Oh well!
The property was actually owned by William B. Powhatan (one “t”) all the way to October of 1949 but he leased to various operators; so one must challenge the notion that Franchon & Marco “built” the theater as they took on the venue much later. In fact, Spyros Skouras took on the venue in on October 23, 1925 passing it through to St. Louis Amusement and it became a de facto Paramount / Publix house until its bankruptcy protection in the 1930s. St. Louis Amusement wired the Powhatan Theatre & Airdome with Western Electric and Vitaphone sound to keep the venue(s) viable in December 16, 1928. Its first sound film after a week’s long closure was “Caught in the Fog.”
In January of 1933, the Paramount/Publix Corporation was forced into receivership and entered into bankruptcy in 1934. The Powhatan went back to independent operation. In 1937, it becomes part of the Roxy Theatre Corporation with the Roxy, Avalon, Columbia, and Whiteway. Under Roxy operation, it uses the two “t” Powhattan for much of the decade without any reason so should be “also known as” the Powhattan Theatre and Airdome (sic) just to make researching a bit easier.
For a period of time the address listed above for this entry - 3107 Sutton - was home to the M&M Confectionery that served as the de facto concession stand for the Powhatan Theatre and Airdome. The Powhattan ran into labor issues with Roxy Theatre Corp’s Bess Schulter shutting the venue down in 1940 due to a Union dispute on September 24. The confectionery survive the closure and would become home to a tavern that’s pictured in photos. The Powhattan reopened about seven months later on Easter Sunday of 1941.
The theater passed to Fachon & Marco (there they are) with a new manager in February of 1943. The Powhattan was again temporarily shut down effectively in September of 1945 by the local union for the Powhattan Theater’s manager refusal to allow union inspectors in. It reopened on May 30, 1946 back officially as a St. Louis Amusement Corp. property.
In 1949, the Powhatan property was was sold outright by the Powhatan family to St. Louis Amusement on October 30, 1949 apparently as land speculation. In fact, hey closed it permanently a month later likely when the deal was closed on November 27, 1949 with “It’s a Great Feeling.” I’m not sure the neighborhood agreed about the feeling. The Powhatan was listed as “CLOSED!” for two weeks before being removed from newspaper listings altogether.
An April 27, 1956 fire almost ended the property. A second arson fire just three days later then took care of the hardtop theater. The corner lot to the middle of the block were cleared and became a National Food Grocery Store a year later (picture of that in photos to clarify). As noted, the 3107 Sutton property pictured above was at one time a confectionery and later in the 1940s became a tavern in the 1940s lasting into the 1950s and possibly beyond. But that’s the only connection to the theatre - sorry - as it was a tavern in the late 1940s and 1950s when the theatre was still standing.
This venue’s 37-year career as an Airdome/Theater combo appears to stand as a record number of years for a Theatre/Airdome combination in the city and its 41 seasons also a record for overall airdoming operation in St. Louis. We salute you Powhatan/Powhattan (sic) Theatre & Airdome!
September 6, 1908 opening ad as the Bijou Dream in photos. The nearby Casino Theatre on Olive and 6th lost its lease. The two theaters became one as the Bijou-Casino on January 29, 1911. That combo lasted seven months with the venue becoming the Bijou Dance Academy.
Technically, One City Center is what sits there presently (formerly St. Louis Centre Mall)
The Webster Theater opened on December 16, 1909 with motion pictures. The Webster has the City of St. Louis record for second longest operation with both hardtop and outdoor airdome theater trailing only the Powhatan / Powhattan Theatre and Airdome. The ventilation challenged Webster Theatre used its Airdome in the summer months. It is documented from 1918 to 1948. The Webster closes for the summer on June 8, 1952 with “Lone Star” and “Blondie Has Servant Trouble.” It did not operate its Airdome or reopen.
dallasmovietheatersdallasmovietheaters on November 3, 2024 at 11:07 am (remove)
This could be incorrect but the local paper and trade press indicate that this venue opened as the Grand and Cass Tent Theater in 1910. In 1911, it is given a roof likely under threat of closure by the City which was cracking down on tent and airdome venues in 1911. It appears to be called the Fair Theater with 600 seats from 1911 to early 1916.
Building operator Frank Obear & Son offer the lease of it and the neighboring retail store for a very low price. Soon after in 1916, it becomes the Acme Theater. That ends within months. New lessee J.J. Barrett operates it along with the Chippewa and Kinckerbocker that same Fall . On April 17, 1919, William Jaskiewic reopens it as the Wilson Theater on a grind policy showing films until 11p daily. Pete Rybaki owned the theatre as the Wilson in 1927. The theater is said to have finished silent as the Colonial Theater though there is little evidence of its operation.
The King Bee Odeon opened in 1910 as a tent theater. In 1912, it is renamed the King Bee Theater remaining a tent show. After five successful seasons and likely under duress from the City of St. Louis which was cracking down on tent picture shows due to well-placed safety concerns, it was rebuilt late in 1914 and early 1915 as a hardtop venue continuing as the King Bee Theater by Mike Nash. United Pictures Theatres of America booked the venue beginning in 1918. An adjoining candy store / confectionery served as the de facto concession stand.
George P. Skouras took over the King Bee in October of 1925. Skouras added Tiffany-Stahl’s Tiffany Tone sound to the King Bee to remain viable in 1929. Skouras technically closed the venue in 1930. In 1931, it was taken over by Barbara Schmoll Pautler who operated it until 1947. It got new owners from 1947 to 1952. The King Bee was deposed on July 20, 1952 after showings of “Drums in the Deep South ” and “Pistol Harvest.”
Please don’t change the original Charles Van Bibber entry which is just fine. My research indicates the following:
The origins of the Ashland Theatre date back to its construction in late 1909 replacing a residential property and becoming the Ashland Tent Picture Show in 1910 (picture in photos). D.T. Williams & Wife Co. began the theater and it was considered one of the few area theaters managed by a female operator. The independent operators in early St. Louis found their entry into the movie business in airdromes and tents as chain operation was already beginning to limit newcomers.
The Williams were active in ensuring independent theater operation as active members of the St. Louis Motion Picture Protective Association during World War I. The Williams were threatened with closure as many tent shows were found to be unsafe by the City due to the high incidence of nitrate film projection fires. So at the end of its fifth successful season, the Williams tore down their tent picture show in favor of a $20,000 hard top Ashland Theater built with the predecessor’s proceeds.
The “new” hardtop Ashland Theatre opened in May of 1915. Louis W. Vick took on the venue. He would wire it with DeForest Phonofilm sound in 1929 to keep the Ashland viable. Lena Vick Fiorito co-operated the Ashland and Lee Theaters. The Lee was closed for the summer on May 28, 1949 with the ventilation-challenged venue closed permanently.
Her Ashland Theatre soldiered on to its 36th Anniversary on May 12, 1951 closing with “I Killed Geronimo” & “Timber Fury.” Listed as closed for renovation and likely due to lack of modern ventilation, the Ashland’s renovations don’t take place and the closure is permanent. Both the Lee and the Ashland are listed for sale in 1951 and 1952 with the Ashland becoming a church in 1952. It is assumed that the Ashland is all but demolished serving as the foundation for a new church as the two buildings have little if anything in common.
The Vaudeville Theatre Company began to build this venue in 1911 at a cost of $20,000. The project was picked up by the Montgomery Theatre Corporation opening in May of 1911. Reopened as the Hi-Way Theatre on September 19, 1937 with “Sing and Be Happy” and “A Star is Born.” Closed at the expiry of a 20-year leasing agreement on June 30, 1957 with “Fear Strikes Out” and “Three Violent People.”
Edward Scholl created the Bremen Theatre Company and built the Bremen Theatre for $10,000 in 1910. Orrin T. Crawford joined the Bremen Theatre Company and became President of O.T. Crawford Vaudeville Exchange. He would take on the Bremen in April of 1915 when Scholl’s company went into receivership.
Mogler Amusement took on the venue in 1925 moving its offices next door to the Bremen. Mogler Amusement sold it to William S., Mildred H. and Marguerite A. Kaimann. But a disagreement over ownership took place in 1947 with William S. shooting Clarence who was trying to take control of the venue for his own Hyde Park Entertainment. William then committed suicide. The courts then ruled that Marguerite would be the rightful owner and she continued to the end of a 30-year period. The Bremen’s last advertised films were November 19, 1967 with “The War Wagon” and “Tammy and the Millionaire.”
The Lindell Theater opened on August 15, 1914. St. Louis Amusements and Arthur Theatres closed here on May 7, 1961 with “Count and Die” and “Prescription for Murder”. That was followed by the canopy and attractor crashing down in the early hour morning ending the venue’s lifecycle. It was torn down in January of 1962. The space was proposed as parking for Busch Stadium that did not transpire.
W.A. Meagher built and opened an airdrome in 1912 at this address. He appears to have enclosed the operation in 1913 as the Marquette Theatre. Louis Spiros took on the venue in 1922 and equipping it for sound to remain viable by decade’s end.
On November 26, 1943, the Marquette’s policy changed to serving African American customers. St. Louis' first female African American police officer, Floy Jones, arrested a robber at the theater in December of 1956. Sprios retired, closing the Marquette on January 22, 1957 with “The Bold and the Brave” and “Slightly Scarlet.”
Under new operators, the Marquette came back on February 12, 1960 with a triple feature of “Rodani,” “3:10 to Uma” and “Carnival Rock.” The theatre appears to have closed permanently on July 13, 1961 with “On the Beach” and “Jonny Concho.”
The Hudson Theater opened in 1910 as a silent movie house and was apparently in a converted malthouse. A neighboring confectionery served as its de facto concession stand. The Hudson closed in 1929 unable to convert to sound. But the theater fulfilled one final function during the Depression beginning on February 21, 1933 when it served as the home for the Dramatic League of St. Louis which staged free plays for the unemployed and for members of the American Unemployed Benefit Association as a service.
Just in the rear of the theater was an dual-level, below-ground opening that has been reported as connecting to the Wainwright Brewing cave running underground some six blocks away and used by the former malthouse. Urban legend purports that the Hudson served as a prohibition-era, banned beverage pickup spot using the tunnel between it and the closed Wainwright brewery - though that is certainly not documented. What was documented in 1919 was reported as a gang violence brawl that led to panic in the Hudson auditorium which led to customers being pressed through the glass entry/exit doors and the manager and staff being pummeled. Not fun.
The Chippewa Theatre Company opened the Chippewa here in 1911. The silent-era theater landed on the front page of a local newspaper on April 2, 1916 when local police took seized the film “Undine” and arrested owner James J. Barrett and Universal Film’s Barney Rosentahal for showing an immoral film specifically for a “nymph rescuing a man from drowning.” The venue showed the film apparently without the scene only to be seized again for showing women without draperies. Under pressure, Barrett sold out the theater to new operators in 1916 who promised only high class films.
The operator of the Aubert Theater took over the venue in November of 1924 reopening after a refresh. It was closed permanently on May 15,1927 with Constance Talmadge in “Venice of Venice” supported by live vaudeville. It never converted to sound and was converted a Jim Remley grocery store.
The Orpheum Circuit vaudeville shows played at the Fargo Playhouse in the 1900s and the Savoy in 1910. The Circuit decided to invest funds to convert the Fargo Mercantile building to the Orpheum Theatre adding Fargo to the traveling show’s list following Minneapolis and St. Paul. Just 14 months later, the Orpheum Theatre launched on April 4, 1911. The Milch Sisters, the Gee-Jays, Jotta Gladstone and many other vaudevillians were there for the sold-out first night. But the first act of the Orpheum on opening night was Kinodrome short films.
Films were worked into the off-season parts of the Orpheum' s schedule when no acts were touring or available. American Amusement took on the venue in 1923 with Paramount / Publix actually renewing the lease in 1925. Under Minnesota Amusement and Paramount/Publix, lawsuits were raised with the theater largely going dark as sound film theaters took hold and vaudeville’s popularity and profitability subsided.
The Orpheum actually launched its 1935 season with a single play, “Petticoat Fever,” in November of 1935. But Publix / American Amusement/ Minnesota Amusement went into receivership and the lease was allowed to lapse or broken effectively January 31, 1936 with Minnesota Amusement removing anything of value including lighting, seats, and projection. That seems to have ended the Orpheum’s run officially ending with a V.F.W. speech on November 29, 1935. Likely with new 25-year lessees using the multipurpose building, the property was bulldozed at the end of that cycle in 1960.
The Strand opened March 29, 1915 in the Sons of Norway Building with Donald Crisp in “The Escape”. Berhnhard’s Dance Hall was directly above the theater. It showed John Gilbert in “Cameo Kirby” on October 25, 1923. Hours after the show, the building burned in a fire that ended the venue.
Harry B. Moore opened the Grand Family Theatre for the International Theatrical Circuit on December 24, 1906 with live vaudeville supported by short comedy films. “Family” was dropped in Sept. 1908 becoming the Grand. It appears to have closed sticking with vaudeville until November of 1927. It became a moviehouse in 1935.
The 400-seat Ideal Theatre was built in the new-build Morris Block opening on November 1, 1906 - the first movie theater in town with an inclined floor. And it had a penny arcade, to boot.
It became the Savoy on September 22, 1910 briefly becoming a live vaudeville venue. In December of 1917, it was closed for a remodeling and reopened on February 4, 1918 as the Liberty Theatre with “On Trial” supported by music from its Seeburg pipe organ.
The Liberty Theatre played “Ladder Jinx” on May 5, 1923 and, after hours, it was destroyed by fire in the early hours of May 6, 1923. The nearby Strand Theatre was destroyed by fire just months later on October 26, 1923.
L.J. Simonds opened April 25, 1906 as the Bijou with motion pictures including Blair, the Dog in “Rescued by Rover.” It moved from nickelodeon to theater in 1915 when it was rebuilt as the Garrick Theatre launching September 27, 1915 by D.W. Chamberlin with Pauline Frederick in “Sold.” American Amusement decided against wiring the Garrick or the Lyceum for sound with both theaters converted - one to retail and one to a restaurant.
Opened with Norma Talmadge in “The Wonderful Thing” supported by Fargo native star Angela Gibson’s short, “The Ice Ticket,” and live music from the venue’s $15,000 Robert Morton Concert pipe organ (billed as “The Organ with a Soul”) on November 28, 1921. Norman Wright was at the console. Opening ad in photos.
The State converted to sound to remain viable. It became the “new” Towne Theatre after a major refresh in 1951.
There were two Casino Theaters operating simultaneously in St. Louis. This was one was opened by Edward Twiehaus & Son in 1907 whose license was revoked apparently for blocking the sidewalks to Union Station. John Karzin improved the Casino in 1907 apparently easing the blocking problem. E. Jacob Weiss then expanded the building in 1915 moving from a nickelodeon to a legitimate theater with, now, fire exits which its predecessor did not have. This Casino closed on August 7, 1927 with Hoot Gibson in “A Hero on Horseback.”
Another Casino Theater operated at 608 Olive Street. It was a 330-seat nickelodeon opening in 1908 by E.M. Hanauer. It had a piano, two Powers No. 6 projectors, and dual stereopticon units that dissolved from one image to the other. All the leases were terminated in the building including the Casino Theater’s late in 1911 with this Casino auctioned off on January 30, 1912. The building was demolished weeks later and replaced with a modern building.
Louis K. Ansell Interests incorporated as U-City Theatres Corporation in 1935 with the purpose of converting a terra cotta retail building at 6215-6217 into the U-City Theater to the plans of Bruce F. Barnes. That project foundered and they tried again here at 6608-6612 Delmar again with plans by Bruce F. Barnes and with a new name, The Varsity. The theater would be the company’s third along with the acquired Ritz and Empress.
The Varsity Theater launched here on a 15-year lease opening December 5, 1935 with “Broadway Melody of 1936.” Final operators Grace Viviano Piccione and Peter Piccione operated the venue from 1960 until January 3, 1988 closing appropriately with “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a film that first played the Varsity in 1976 before playing every weekend from May 1978 to its 1988 closure. The space was almost immediately converted to a short-lived Medicare-Glaser Drug Store (picture in photos) followed by the Vintage Vinyl record store.
Charles Arthur Kalbfell and his wife spent $15,000 to build the Pauline Theater in 1915 on behalf of his independent Echo-Pauline Amusement Company. The Pauline Theater had a neighboring airdome that operated at least until 1928 in the warm summer months. In 1917, the theater is listed as the Echo-Pauline Theater.
Meanwhile, Charles' brother, Howard T., had previously opened the Robin Theater while brother Arthur helped operate the Pauline Theater. The city forced the closure of the Robin Theater in 1947 due to major safety concerns. The Pauline Theater closed with Arthur in poor physical health on April 15, 1956 with “Honky Tonk” and “Billy, the Kid”. The theater would immediately be used as a house of worship and Arthur Kalbell passed away before year’s end.
The independent Echo-Pauline Amusement Company operated by the Kalbell family opened the Robin Theater and then the Pauline Theater. The Robin Theater opened in 1910 at the corner or Harney and Robin in the Walnut Park neighborhood of St. Louis in an existing building. The theatre opened with vaudeville with short films in the programming mix. Charles Arthur Kalbfell and his wife spent $15,000 to build the Pauline Theater in 1915
The trade press reports installation of a new Minusa Gold Fibre screen and new projectors as the Robin Theatre goes almost exclusively to motion pictures. New operators in 1928/9 switch the silent house to talking pictures. The Kalbells returned to operate the theater.
On April 2, 1947, the theater paid for its annual operating license only to be shut down five days later over a fire code restriction put in by the city. The city condemned the theater and ordered is demolition within 7 days. The Kallbells lost their legal battle on appeal to the State Supreme Court making the last showing there as “The Showoff” on April 5, 1947.
Told not to reopen the theater, the building remained dark. Tthe vacant theater was damaged by a fire on September 6, 1952 (image in photos) and was eventually demolished. The Kalbells later closed the Pauline Theater on April 15, 1956 ending the Echo-Pauline Amusement Co.
You can leave the Charles Van Bibber entry above. My own research would suggest a slightly different take with the builder, the address, the status of the venue, and some of the basic facts reworked. So in case you want a slightly different take, here goes:
William B. Powhatan opened on Sutton in the summer of 1909 as the Powhatan Airdome. Then in 1910, operator/owner William B. Powhatan was arrested for not paying the $20 monthly license to run a nickelodeon. And I’m sure he’d be surprised to see that Franchon & Marco gets credit here for building this theater since they didn’t but they also didn’t have to pay his bail, either.
Powhatan built a hardtop theater next door to the Airdome in 1913 becoming the Powhatan Theater & Airdome. This 1913 configuration was at 3111-3115 Sutton Boulevard. (It’s very possible that the 1909-1912 Airdome address was 3107 Sutton leading to the confusion of the address above and the directory note.) The St. Louis Meramec Railroad Company operated an electrical rail service that ran from downtown St. Louis to the Sutton Loop. It ran right past the Powhatan Theater and Airdome. The Manchester Line gaveth - as the Powhatan was able to get live vaudeville performers from St. Louis thanks to the convenient rail service that ran all night - and it tooketh away when Mr. Powhatan left his glass lantern song slides on the trolley one day likely having picked them up in St. Louis at the distributor’s office before losing them. Oh well!
The property was actually owned by William B. Powhatan (one “t”) all the way to October of 1949 but he leased to various operators; so one must challenge the notion that Franchon & Marco “built” the theater as they took on the venue much later. In fact, Spyros Skouras took on the venue in on October 23, 1925 passing it through to St. Louis Amusement and it became a de facto Paramount / Publix house until its bankruptcy protection in the 1930s. St. Louis Amusement wired the Powhatan Theatre & Airdome with Western Electric and Vitaphone sound to keep the venue(s) viable in December 16, 1928. Its first sound film after a week’s long closure was “Caught in the Fog.”
In January of 1933, the Paramount/Publix Corporation was forced into receivership and entered into bankruptcy in 1934. The Powhatan went back to independent operation. In 1937, it becomes part of the Roxy Theatre Corporation with the Roxy, Avalon, Columbia, and Whiteway. Under Roxy operation, it uses the two “t” Powhattan for much of the decade without any reason so should be “also known as” the Powhattan Theatre and Airdome (sic) just to make researching a bit easier.
For a period of time the address listed above for this entry - 3107 Sutton - was home to the M&M Confectionery that served as the de facto concession stand for the Powhatan Theatre and Airdome. The Powhattan ran into labor issues with Roxy Theatre Corp’s Bess Schulter shutting the venue down in 1940 due to a Union dispute on September 24. The confectionery survive the closure and would become home to a tavern that’s pictured in photos. The Powhattan reopened about seven months later on Easter Sunday of 1941.
The theater passed to Fachon & Marco (there they are) with a new manager in February of 1943. The Powhattan was again temporarily shut down effectively in September of 1945 by the local union for the Powhattan Theater’s manager refusal to allow union inspectors in. It reopened on May 30, 1946 back officially as a St. Louis Amusement Corp. property.
In 1949, the Powhatan property was was sold outright by the Powhatan family to St. Louis Amusement on October 30, 1949 apparently as land speculation. In fact, hey closed it permanently a month later likely when the deal was closed on November 27, 1949 with “It’s a Great Feeling.” I’m not sure the neighborhood agreed about the feeling. The Powhatan was listed as “CLOSED!” for two weeks before being removed from newspaper listings altogether.
An April 27, 1956 fire almost ended the property. A second arson fire just three days later then took care of the hardtop theater. The corner lot to the middle of the block were cleared and became a National Food Grocery Store a year later (picture of that in photos to clarify). As noted, the 3107 Sutton property pictured above was at one time a confectionery and later in the 1940s became a tavern in the 1940s lasting into the 1950s and possibly beyond. But that’s the only connection to the theatre - sorry - as it was a tavern in the late 1940s and 1950s when the theatre was still standing.
This venue’s 37-year career as an Airdome/Theater combo appears to stand as a record number of years for a Theatre/Airdome combination in the city and its 41 seasons also a record for overall airdoming operation in St. Louis. We salute you Powhatan/Powhattan (sic) Theatre & Airdome!
September 6, 1908 opening ad as the Bijou Dream in photos. The nearby Casino Theatre on Olive and 6th lost its lease. The two theaters became one as the Bijou-Casino on January 29, 1911. That combo lasted seven months with the venue becoming the Bijou Dance Academy.
Technically, One City Center is what sits there presently (formerly St. Louis Centre Mall)
December 13, 1908 shot
The Webster Theater opened on December 16, 1909 with motion pictures. The Webster has the City of St. Louis record for second longest operation with both hardtop and outdoor airdome theater trailing only the Powhatan / Powhattan Theatre and Airdome. The ventilation challenged Webster Theatre used its Airdome in the summer months. It is documented from 1918 to 1948. The Webster closes for the summer on June 8, 1952 with “Lone Star” and “Blondie Has Servant Trouble.” It did not operate its Airdome or reopen.
dallasmovietheatersdallasmovietheaters on November 3, 2024 at 11:07 am (remove) This could be incorrect but the local paper and trade press indicate that this venue opened as the Grand and Cass Tent Theater in 1910. In 1911, it is given a roof likely under threat of closure by the City which was cracking down on tent and airdome venues in 1911. It appears to be called the Fair Theater with 600 seats from 1911 to early 1916.
Building operator Frank Obear & Son offer the lease of it and the neighboring retail store for a very low price. Soon after in 1916, it becomes the Acme Theater. That ends within months. New lessee J.J. Barrett operates it along with the Chippewa and Kinckerbocker that same Fall . On April 17, 1919, William Jaskiewic reopens it as the Wilson Theater on a grind policy showing films until 11p daily. Pete Rybaki owned the theatre as the Wilson in 1927. The theater is said to have finished silent as the Colonial Theater though there is little evidence of its operation.
The King Bee Odeon opened in 1910 as a tent theater. In 1912, it is renamed the King Bee Theater remaining a tent show. After five successful seasons and likely under duress from the City of St. Louis which was cracking down on tent picture shows due to well-placed safety concerns, it was rebuilt late in 1914 and early 1915 as a hardtop venue continuing as the King Bee Theater by Mike Nash. United Pictures Theatres of America booked the venue beginning in 1918. An adjoining candy store / confectionery served as the de facto concession stand.
George P. Skouras took over the King Bee in October of 1925. Skouras added Tiffany-Stahl’s Tiffany Tone sound to the King Bee to remain viable in 1929. Skouras technically closed the venue in 1930. In 1931, it was taken over by Barbara Schmoll Pautler who operated it until 1947. It got new owners from 1947 to 1952. The King Bee was deposed on July 20, 1952 after showings of “Drums in the Deep South ” and “Pistol Harvest.”
Please don’t change the original Charles Van Bibber entry which is just fine. My research indicates the following:
The origins of the Ashland Theatre date back to its construction in late 1909 replacing a residential property and becoming the Ashland Tent Picture Show in 1910 (picture in photos). D.T. Williams & Wife Co. began the theater and it was considered one of the few area theaters managed by a female operator. The independent operators in early St. Louis found their entry into the movie business in airdromes and tents as chain operation was already beginning to limit newcomers.
The Williams were active in ensuring independent theater operation as active members of the St. Louis Motion Picture Protective Association during World War I. The Williams were threatened with closure as many tent shows were found to be unsafe by the City due to the high incidence of nitrate film projection fires. So at the end of its fifth successful season, the Williams tore down their tent picture show in favor of a $20,000 hard top Ashland Theater built with the predecessor’s proceeds.
The “new” hardtop Ashland Theatre opened in May of 1915. Louis W. Vick took on the venue. He would wire it with DeForest Phonofilm sound in 1929 to keep the Ashland viable. Lena Vick Fiorito co-operated the Ashland and Lee Theaters. The Lee was closed for the summer on May 28, 1949 with the ventilation-challenged venue closed permanently.
Her Ashland Theatre soldiered on to its 36th Anniversary on May 12, 1951 closing with “I Killed Geronimo” & “Timber Fury.” Listed as closed for renovation and likely due to lack of modern ventilation, the Ashland’s renovations don’t take place and the closure is permanent. Both the Lee and the Ashland are listed for sale in 1951 and 1952 with the Ashland becoming a church in 1952. It is assumed that the Ashland is all but demolished serving as the foundation for a new church as the two buildings have little if anything in common.
The Vaudeville Theatre Company began to build this venue in 1911 at a cost of $20,000. The project was picked up by the Montgomery Theatre Corporation opening in May of 1911. Reopened as the Hi-Way Theatre on September 19, 1937 with “Sing and Be Happy” and “A Star is Born.” Closed at the expiry of a 20-year leasing agreement on June 30, 1957 with “Fear Strikes Out” and “Three Violent People.”
Edward Scholl created the Bremen Theatre Company and built the Bremen Theatre for $10,000 in 1910. Orrin T. Crawford joined the Bremen Theatre Company and became President of O.T. Crawford Vaudeville Exchange. He would take on the Bremen in April of 1915 when Scholl’s company went into receivership.
Mogler Amusement took on the venue in 1925 moving its offices next door to the Bremen. Mogler Amusement sold it to William S., Mildred H. and Marguerite A. Kaimann. But a disagreement over ownership took place in 1947 with William S. shooting Clarence who was trying to take control of the venue for his own Hyde Park Entertainment. William then committed suicide. The courts then ruled that Marguerite would be the rightful owner and she continued to the end of a 30-year period. The Bremen’s last advertised films were November 19, 1967 with “The War Wagon” and “Tammy and the Millionaire.”
The Lindell Theater opened on August 15, 1914. St. Louis Amusements and Arthur Theatres closed here on May 7, 1961 with “Count and Die” and “Prescription for Murder”. That was followed by the canopy and attractor crashing down in the early hour morning ending the venue’s lifecycle. It was torn down in January of 1962. The space was proposed as parking for Busch Stadium that did not transpire.
W.A. Meagher built and opened an airdrome in 1912 at this address. He appears to have enclosed the operation in 1913 as the Marquette Theatre. Louis Spiros took on the venue in 1922 and equipping it for sound to remain viable by decade’s end.
On November 26, 1943, the Marquette’s policy changed to serving African American customers. St. Louis' first female African American police officer, Floy Jones, arrested a robber at the theater in December of 1956. Sprios retired, closing the Marquette on January 22, 1957 with “The Bold and the Brave” and “Slightly Scarlet.”
Under new operators, the Marquette came back on February 12, 1960 with a triple feature of “Rodani,” “3:10 to Uma” and “Carnival Rock.” The theatre appears to have closed permanently on July 13, 1961 with “On the Beach” and “Jonny Concho.”
Auction: January 30, 1912. The building was demolished in February of 1912 and replaced by a new building.
The Hudson Theater opened in 1910 as a silent movie house and was apparently in a converted malthouse. A neighboring confectionery served as its de facto concession stand. The Hudson closed in 1929 unable to convert to sound. But the theater fulfilled one final function during the Depression beginning on February 21, 1933 when it served as the home for the Dramatic League of St. Louis which staged free plays for the unemployed and for members of the American Unemployed Benefit Association as a service.
Just in the rear of the theater was an dual-level, below-ground opening that has been reported as connecting to the Wainwright Brewing cave running underground some six blocks away and used by the former malthouse. Urban legend purports that the Hudson served as a prohibition-era, banned beverage pickup spot using the tunnel between it and the closed Wainwright brewery - though that is certainly not documented. What was documented in 1919 was reported as a gang violence brawl that led to panic in the Hudson auditorium which led to customers being pressed through the glass entry/exit doors and the manager and staff being pummeled. Not fun.
The Chippewa Theatre Company opened the Chippewa here in 1911. The silent-era theater landed on the front page of a local newspaper on April 2, 1916 when local police took seized the film “Undine” and arrested owner James J. Barrett and Universal Film’s Barney Rosentahal for showing an immoral film specifically for a “nymph rescuing a man from drowning.” The venue showed the film apparently without the scene only to be seized again for showing women without draperies. Under pressure, Barrett sold out the theater to new operators in 1916 who promised only high class films.
The operator of the Aubert Theater took over the venue in November of 1924 reopening after a refresh. It was closed permanently on May 15,1927 with Constance Talmadge in “Venice of Venice” supported by live vaudeville. It never converted to sound and was converted a Jim Remley grocery store.
The Orpheum Circuit vaudeville shows played at the Fargo Playhouse in the 1900s and the Savoy in 1910. The Circuit decided to invest funds to convert the Fargo Mercantile building to the Orpheum Theatre adding Fargo to the traveling show’s list following Minneapolis and St. Paul. Just 14 months later, the Orpheum Theatre launched on April 4, 1911. The Milch Sisters, the Gee-Jays, Jotta Gladstone and many other vaudevillians were there for the sold-out first night. But the first act of the Orpheum on opening night was Kinodrome short films.
Films were worked into the off-season parts of the Orpheum' s schedule when no acts were touring or available. American Amusement took on the venue in 1923 with Paramount / Publix actually renewing the lease in 1925. Under Minnesota Amusement and Paramount/Publix, lawsuits were raised with the theater largely going dark as sound film theaters took hold and vaudeville’s popularity and profitability subsided.
The Orpheum actually launched its 1935 season with a single play, “Petticoat Fever,” in November of 1935. But Publix / American Amusement/ Minnesota Amusement went into receivership and the lease was allowed to lapse or broken effectively January 31, 1936 with Minnesota Amusement removing anything of value including lighting, seats, and projection. That seems to have ended the Orpheum’s run officially ending with a V.F.W. speech on November 29, 1935. Likely with new 25-year lessees using the multipurpose building, the property was bulldozed at the end of that cycle in 1960.
The Strand opened March 29, 1915 in the Sons of Norway Building with Donald Crisp in “The Escape”. Berhnhard’s Dance Hall was directly above the theater. It showed John Gilbert in “Cameo Kirby” on October 25, 1923. Hours after the show, the building burned in a fire that ended the venue.
Harry B. Moore opened the Grand Family Theatre for the International Theatrical Circuit on December 24, 1906 with live vaudeville supported by short comedy films. “Family” was dropped in Sept. 1908 becoming the Grand. It appears to have closed sticking with vaudeville until November of 1927. It became a moviehouse in 1935.
The 400-seat Ideal Theatre was built in the new-build Morris Block opening on November 1, 1906 - the first movie theater in town with an inclined floor. And it had a penny arcade, to boot.
It became the Savoy on September 22, 1910 briefly becoming a live vaudeville venue. In December of 1917, it was closed for a remodeling and reopened on February 4, 1918 as the Liberty Theatre with “On Trial” supported by music from its Seeburg pipe organ.
The Liberty Theatre played “Ladder Jinx” on May 5, 1923 and, after hours, it was destroyed by fire in the early hours of May 6, 1923. The nearby Strand Theatre was destroyed by fire just months later on October 26, 1923.
L.J. Simonds opened April 25, 1906 as the Bijou with motion pictures including Blair, the Dog in “Rescued by Rover.” It moved from nickelodeon to theater in 1915 when it was rebuilt as the Garrick Theatre launching September 27, 1915 by D.W. Chamberlin with Pauline Frederick in “Sold.” American Amusement decided against wiring the Garrick or the Lyceum for sound with both theaters converted - one to retail and one to a restaurant.
Opened with Norma Talmadge in “The Wonderful Thing” supported by Fargo native star Angela Gibson’s short, “The Ice Ticket,” and live music from the venue’s $15,000 Robert Morton Concert pipe organ (billed as “The Organ with a Soul”) on November 28, 1921. Norman Wright was at the console. Opening ad in photos.
The State converted to sound to remain viable. It became the “new” Towne Theatre after a major refresh in 1951.
There were two Casino Theaters operating simultaneously in St. Louis. This was one was opened by Edward Twiehaus & Son in 1907 whose license was revoked apparently for blocking the sidewalks to Union Station. John Karzin improved the Casino in 1907 apparently easing the blocking problem. E. Jacob Weiss then expanded the building in 1915 moving from a nickelodeon to a legitimate theater with, now, fire exits which its predecessor did not have. This Casino closed on August 7, 1927 with Hoot Gibson in “A Hero on Horseback.”
Another Casino Theater operated at 608 Olive Street. It was a 330-seat nickelodeon opening in 1908 by E.M. Hanauer. It had a piano, two Powers No. 6 projectors, and dual stereopticon units that dissolved from one image to the other. All the leases were terminated in the building including the Casino Theater’s late in 1911 with this Casino auctioned off on January 30, 1912. The building was demolished weeks later and replaced with a modern building.
Opened as the Lowell Family Theater in 1909.