That was a nicely painted and decorated lobby. It had chairs for sitting and ash tray stands. The building was some type of auto store as I recall, although I remember it being to the left of the theater as you looked at it from the entrance.
My grandfather built The Stadium, and my father and uncle later took it over, as they did the rest of the chain my grandfather founded (The Pirtle Circuit of Theaters). I remember my dad telling stories of when he and my uncle wrestled on the stage as entertainment for the patrons prior to the movie starting. I also remember when “Old Yeller” came to the theater. The line was so long it wound down Pearl Street, then down State Street for a block or so downtown. The crowd inside was so large I had to sit in the aisle. And there were the times, once a year, when my dad would allow all of the kids in Jerseyville to get in free while he played cartoons on the screen all day long.
Les Pirtle
O'Fallon, MO
To: AKK76
That was a nicely painted and decorated lobby. It had chairs for sitting and ash tray stands. The building was some type of auto store as I recall, although I remember it being to the left of the theater as you looked at it from the entrance.
My grandfather built The Stadium, and my father and uncle later took it over, as they did the rest of the chain my grandfather founded (The Pirtle Circuit of Theaters). I remember my dad telling stories of when he and my uncle wrestled on the stage as entertainment for the patrons prior to the movie starting. I also remember when “Old Yeller” came to the theater. The line was so long it wound down Pearl Street, then down State Street for a block or so downtown. The crowd inside was so large I had to sit in the aisle. And there were the times, once a year, when my dad would allow all of the kids in Jerseyville to get in free while he played cartoons on the screen all day long.
Les Pirtle
O'Fallon, MO