Charles, you seem to have a hard time agreeing with people over who built theaters. Also why would a theater company have a theater on there web site that was built so long ago and has not existed in almost a decade.
According the Landmark Association’s book on St. Louis landmarks, it says that it was built as part of the Orpheum chain. JAlex might be right with it being built for Metropolitain theatres, but the book says nothing about Skouras Brothers ever building it.
Also, if you visit the Varsity today, you are not seeing the original exterior. The theater was originally covered in multicolored tiles. The tiles where removed around the time of the fire. The tilework extended beyond the theater itself, to the two buildings on either side of it. The round windows and the cornice detail are original, as are the marquee and tower.
The fire at the Varsity occured in 1981, destroying what remained of the original decor. The main auditorium had already been divided in half, and they where addind a new auditorium. The people of the area are very upset, because Kerasotes promise that when the new theater opened, they would still keep the Varsity open. Then about a week before the new one opened, they annouced the Varsity would close.
You are right JAlex, Skouras Brothers did not build the St. Louis Theatre. Also, Charles if you read through the comments above, you do not mention that the Rocket Girls became the Rockettes. All you say is that they moved on to the Roxy theater.
Micheal, not every theater can still show movies. Here in America, it costs a lot of money to keep a theater running. At least when the theater becomes a church, it is not torn down.
Recently read in “St. Louis Lost” that the facade and some of the interior plaster work was saved. Was wondering if anyone has any information on if these objects still exist, and if they do, where are they?
This theater is set to open next month. The original facade is included in the design, but it’s placement has been changed. If you go to the web site above, they show the facade on the side of the building. The facade is now on the corner, at the entrance, which is where it was on the original. The building is very good looking, and the facade is beautiful. I never remember seeing the original, since I was in grade school when it burned, but can remember when it did. I also think that the status of the building should be changed to demolished, since the new building is much bigger than the original, and is not designed to be a movie theater.
This theater is in danger of being torn down. The building next door burned down last fall. The owner of a bar nearby has been harassing the city to demolish the building. The city is trying too, despite the fact that the current owner is moving ahead with renovation. Havn’t heard much about the theater in the last few months, so I don’t know what is currently going on.
To update Charles describtion, the lobby floor was covered up in 2000, when the lobby was restored. The reason for covering up the lobby floor was so that no one would slip and fall. The carpet matches the original design, that was already in the auditorium. During the restoration, they finished restoring the mural on the lobby ceiling. In 1982, they had run out of money before it could be restored. The theater also has its original elevators. They still have to be manually operated.
The Varsity suffered from a fire in the mid-1980s, I believe when it was being turned into a triplex. Much of the interior was lost. The theater has a huge glass block tower above the marquee, on which Varsity is written in large letters. Haven’t been inside since I was young, so I can’t remeber much of the interior.
Thank you to whoever took the photo down!
Ok, thanks for clarifying this. Do you remember what the address is for that web site?
Charles, you seem to have a hard time agreeing with people over who built theaters. Also why would a theater company have a theater on there web site that was built so long ago and has not existed in almost a decade.
According the Landmark Association’s book on St. Louis landmarks, it says that it was built as part of the Orpheum chain. JAlex might be right with it being built for Metropolitain theatres, but the book says nothing about Skouras Brothers ever building it.
Also, if you visit the Varsity today, you are not seeing the original exterior. The theater was originally covered in multicolored tiles. The tiles where removed around the time of the fire. The tilework extended beyond the theater itself, to the two buildings on either side of it. The round windows and the cornice detail are original, as are the marquee and tower.
The fire at the Varsity occured in 1981, destroying what remained of the original decor. The main auditorium had already been divided in half, and they where addind a new auditorium. The people of the area are very upset, because Kerasotes promise that when the new theater opened, they would still keep the Varsity open. Then about a week before the new one opened, they annouced the Varsity would close.
You are right JAlex, Skouras Brothers did not build the St. Louis Theatre. Also, Charles if you read through the comments above, you do not mention that the Rocket Girls became the Rockettes. All you say is that they moved on to the Roxy theater.
The Powell Hall was not built for the Skouras Brothers, it was built by the Orpheum chain.
Micheal, not every theater can still show movies. Here in America, it costs a lot of money to keep a theater running. At least when the theater becomes a church, it is not torn down.
The Missouri Rocket Girls would go on to become the even more famouse Radia City Rockettes.
Recently read in “St. Louis Lost” that the facade and some of the interior plaster work was saved. Was wondering if anyone has any information on if these objects still exist, and if they do, where are they?
This theater is set to open next month. The original facade is included in the design, but it’s placement has been changed. If you go to the web site above, they show the facade on the side of the building. The facade is now on the corner, at the entrance, which is where it was on the original. The building is very good looking, and the facade is beautiful. I never remember seeing the original, since I was in grade school when it burned, but can remember when it did. I also think that the status of the building should be changed to demolished, since the new building is much bigger than the original, and is not designed to be a movie theater.
This theater is in danger of being torn down. The building next door burned down last fall. The owner of a bar nearby has been harassing the city to demolish the building. The city is trying too, despite the fact that the current owner is moving ahead with renovation. Havn’t heard much about the theater in the last few months, so I don’t know what is currently going on.
An exact twin to the St. Louis Fox. They only differ on the exterior.
To update Charles describtion, the lobby floor was covered up in 2000, when the lobby was restored. The reason for covering up the lobby floor was so that no one would slip and fall. The carpet matches the original design, that was already in the auditorium. During the restoration, they finished restoring the mural on the lobby ceiling. In 1982, they had run out of money before it could be restored. The theater also has its original elevators. They still have to be manually operated.
The Varsity suffered from a fire in the mid-1980s, I believe when it was being turned into a triplex. Much of the interior was lost. The theater has a huge glass block tower above the marquee, on which Varsity is written in large letters. Haven’t been inside since I was young, so I can’t remeber much of the interior.
This theater was on the local news in early March. It is being restored for use as a community center.