JO Theatre
205 N. 3rd Street,
St. Joseph,
MO
64501
1 person favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Dickinson Theatres
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Charwood Theatre, Louis Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located on N. 3rd Street and Francis Street. The Charwood Theatre was opened on April 18, 1928 with “Say It with Flowers”. It originally opened with 185 seats. It was renamed Louis Theatre in 1939. It was enlarged and remodelled, reopening on June 26, 1942 with Wayne Morris in “The Smiling Ghost” & William ‘Hopalong Cassidy’ Boyd in “Wide Open Town” and was re-named JO Theatre. Admission in the 1950’s was 25 cents for adults, kids a dime. It was closed on February 12, 1955.
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 15 comments)
Open ~1943-~1955? Anyone care to verify the exact dates?
Owned by Dickinson Operating Co, Inc. of Mission, Kansas, Glen W. Dickinson, Jr. President. They had over 30 theaters in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa.
Could use an exact address, more info and photos.
Grand Opening was Friday 26June1942 The movies were The Smiling Ghost with Wayne Morris,Brenda Marshall + a 2nd movie with WM. Hopalong Cassidy Boyd in Wide Open Town. Admission 15 cents.
There is now a picture of this Theater at sjml.net46.net/jo2.jpg
forgot to mention if you have ATT as internet provider you probably wont be able to bring it up.
i was told if you have at+t as your internet provider they cant get even i have at+t i have to go to local library to get on this site.
St. Joseph Memory Lane gives the address of the Jo Theatre as 124 N. 3rd Street. It also says that the house had been known as the Charwood Theatre and the Louis Theatre. It reopened as the Jo Theatre on June 26, 1942, and its last day of operation was Saturday, February 12, 1955.
I’ve found a single mention of the Charwood Theatre in the trade publications. The Film Daily of May 25, 1933, said that the Charwood Theatre had been transferred from Mrs. Charles T. Phelps to McKinney & McManus. Memory Lane says it was called the Louis Theatre from 1939-1941.
The streamline modern front on the Jo Theatre dated from 1947. The August 8 issue of The Film Daily noted the project in their “About the Trade” column:
The Charwood Theatre was first listed as open in 1929 with 185 seats. It was listed as closed in 1932 and reopened in 1933. It was listed as the Louis Theatre in 1940 with seating as 310. It must have gone throu an expansion and remodel. It was listed as the Jo Theatre in 1942 with the 310 seats. by 1947 seating was increased to 510 so the building must have been expanded again and remodeled.
Opened on June 26th, 1942. Grand opening ad posted.
The Charwood Theatre opened under operation by Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Phelps on April 18, 1928 with “Say it With Flowers.” An opening address by the city’s mayor, Louis V. Stigall, was followed by a violin solo from Mrs. Paney Phelps Collins. The African American theater also had a tea room in the balcony for daily tea service. The very complete article about the theater said the capacity at opening was 500 (not 185).