Shannon Theatre
213 King Avenue,
Portageville,
MO
63873
213 King Avenue,
Portageville,
MO
63873
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The Shannon was where I spent some of the happiest days of my early childhood and where I got my first kiss at age 12! Nothing like westerns to make you feel romantic. The theater was in operation when we moved from Portageville in 1961. The M Barkovitz store was around the corner from the theater. There was a restaurant near what was then an alley that was near the theater. I have nothing but happy memories of the Shannon.
There is a building at 216 Main that looks like it may have been an early theatre; Nickelodeon style arch entry, dual entry around ticket booth shaped glass enclosure; signs of a removed marquee. Peering through the window it appears the building is used for storage (haphazardly). Tile work on the ceiling is consistent with 1910s construction, building is deep enough to have been a theatre; however, the name M. Barkovitz is done in tile in the entryway, indicating a proprietor-business. Was this an earlier theatre than the Shannon and later converted to retail? The actual location of tge Shannon? or just a very ornate shop? The extensive window displays imply something like a dress shop.
I am currently at the site; the building at 213 King (hair salon) is too small to have housed a theater and too old to have been built after. There are obvious signs of other buildings further down the street that were demolished; perhaps the theatre was where the gravel parking lot just north of the hair salon is?
The Shannon theatre actually ran until the mid to late 70s a man named Butch ran it. as a kid i used to go to movies on Saturday afternoons. You could watch a movie if you donted a can of food. the good ole days
The Shannon was listed in the 1963 IMPA. It was part of the Malco Theater chain at that time headquartered in Memphis.