Here’s a story with a different twist about the Crest Theater…back in about 1962-63 I was a young St. Louis Metro Police Officer Rookie & along with three other pals we rented an apt. upstairs (2nd Floor) over the Crest Theater. One early morning, after working ‘Graves’ (night Shift) I arrive at the Crest’s side parking lot & a crowd of people are standing there. I ask what’s going on & they say that some deranged man is chasing the building’s manager around the building. So…I watch & see what happens & suddenly here comes the mgr. screaming “help me, help me…he’s trying to kill me” & there is one of my roommates chasing him. Now, this roommate suffered on rare occasions from ‘Seizure’ spells & sure enough he’s got this glazed look in his eyes as he’s continuing the chase. The Mgr. sees me in PD Uniform & runs to me screaming “shoot him, shoot him” as he tries to hide behind me. I immediately size up the situation & tackle the roommate & I ask for assistance which is immediately given. I tell the helpers to keep their hands away from his mouth since a person having a ‘Seizure’ will bite.
Finally, the roommate calms down & becomes consciously aware again. I ask him what the hell happened & why was he chasing the Mgr….he had NO idea! End of story is…you guessed it, Mgr. tells us to find another place to live.
Happy to hear the the ‘Esquire Theater’ is still in existence & spared from the ‘Wrecking Ball’ of progress.
I was a freshman at ‘Cape State’ in 1958 & in need of funds to complete the year. Jim Foster, Manager of the ‘Esquire’, hired me for position of ‘Marquee Technician’ (three guesses as to job description duties)& ‘Usher’. Had a great year working with co-workers & Mr. Foster, who happened to be a terrific guy.
Still recall some of the great movies at that time…‘The Pride and the Passion’, ‘Mr. Roberts’, Doris & Rock, Cary & Audrey thrillers, etc.
Interestingly, Mr. Foster telling me to assist the concession stand at intermission at one of the new movies…he stated that there was something called “subliminal messages” in this movie & that patrons would want a lot of popcorn, candy & soda. He was correct…sales
were off the chart that evening. Later, I heard that the Government ordered these messages to cease & desist.
Would be nice to hear from my co-workers from that time.
Joe
e-mail:
Here’s a story with a different twist about the Crest Theater…back in about 1962-63 I was a young St. Louis Metro Police Officer Rookie & along with three other pals we rented an apt. upstairs (2nd Floor) over the Crest Theater. One early morning, after working ‘Graves’ (night Shift) I arrive at the Crest’s side parking lot & a crowd of people are standing there. I ask what’s going on & they say that some deranged man is chasing the building’s manager around the building. So…I watch & see what happens & suddenly here comes the mgr. screaming “help me, help me…he’s trying to kill me” & there is one of my roommates chasing him. Now, this roommate suffered on rare occasions from ‘Seizure’ spells & sure enough he’s got this glazed look in his eyes as he’s continuing the chase. The Mgr. sees me in PD Uniform & runs to me screaming “shoot him, shoot him” as he tries to hide behind me. I immediately size up the situation & tackle the roommate & I ask for assistance which is immediately given. I tell the helpers to keep their hands away from his mouth since a person having a ‘Seizure’ will bite. Finally, the roommate calms down & becomes consciously aware again. I ask him what the hell happened & why was he chasing the Mgr….he had NO idea! End of story is…you guessed it, Mgr. tells us to find another place to live.
Happy to hear the the ‘Esquire Theater’ is still in existence & spared from the ‘Wrecking Ball’ of progress.
I was a freshman at ‘Cape State’ in 1958 & in need of funds to complete the year. Jim Foster, Manager of the ‘Esquire’, hired me for position of ‘Marquee Technician’ (three guesses as to job description duties)& ‘Usher’. Had a great year working with co-workers & Mr. Foster, who happened to be a terrific guy.
Still recall some of the great movies at that time…‘The Pride and the Passion’, ‘Mr. Roberts’, Doris & Rock, Cary & Audrey thrillers, etc.
Interestingly, Mr. Foster telling me to assist the concession stand at intermission at one of the new movies…he stated that there was something called “subliminal messages” in this movie & that patrons would want a lot of popcorn, candy & soda. He was correct…sales
were off the chart that evening. Later, I heard that the Government ordered these messages to cease & desist.
Would be nice to hear from my co-workers from that time.
Joe
e-mail: