New Grand Central Theatre
702 N. Grand Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63108
702 N. Grand Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63108
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The final use of the theatre was a three-day run of the Russian film “Chapayev.” The run ended October 1, 1935. A demolition permit was issued in December 1948 with actual razing occurring in December 1949.
The New Grand Central Theater was right between the St. Louis and the Missouri Theaters. A running joke at the time posed the question, “What’s between St. Louis and Missouri?” Answer, “No, it’s not a comma. It’s the New Grand Central Theater. Bad, I know.
This theatre gets a mention in the movie “With A Song In My Heart,” by Jane Froman (played by Susan Hayward) as a place where she performed early in her career. For those looking for photos, perhaps there are some of Jane in concert here.
Are there any existing photos of the interior of this theatre?
Does anyone know where to look for interior photos of these buildings? Is there an archive somewhere?
The following is certainly “fuzzy” information, but it’s the kind of thing that often jogs people’s memories and brings certifiable facts out of the woodwork, so here goes. The old Arcade Lanes bowling alley on Olive Street in University City, MO had a “party room” that contained at least two rows of old wooden theater seats, and I asked the owner of the Arcade where they had come from. He said they were from an old theater on Grand that had been “near the Fox” and was torn down in the ‘40s or '50s. The “Grand Central” name didn’t ring a bell with him, but it’s the only theater that fits the description. I was hoping to acquire some of these seats—or at least direct them to a good home such as the City Museum—when and if the Arcade closed, but unfortunately the bowling alley and (presumably) the theater seats were destroyed by fire a couple of years later.
New Grand Central opened on March 31, 1913. Built by Rex Amusement Company which was operating the Central Theatre downtown. The New Grand Central was the first movie house in the area which eventually became St. Louis' movie theatre district.
The Skouras Bros. took over the house in 1920. At this time the “New” was dropped from the name.
Architect was the firm of Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson.
The last use of the house was on October 1, 1935.
In 1936, Fanchon & Marco announced plans to convert the facility into an art house and rename as Guild Cinema. However, early in 1937 these plans were dropped as bids received were two times F&M’s original estimate.
Demolition permit was issued on Dec. 30, 1948.
A realistic seating capacity is 1850.