Ashland Theatre
3520 N. Newstead Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63115
3520 N. Newstead Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63115
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Please don’t change the original Charles Van Bibber entry which is just fine. My research indicates the following:
The origins of the Ashland Theatre date back to its construction in late 1909 replacing a residential property and becoming the Ashland Tent Picture Show in 1910 (picture in photos). D.T. Williams & Wife Co. began the theater and it was considered one of the few area theaters managed by a female operator. The independent operators in early St. Louis found their entry into the movie business in airdromes and tents as chain operation was already beginning to limit newcomers.
The Williams were active in ensuring independent theater operation as active members of the St. Louis Motion Picture Protective Association during World War I. The Williams were threatened with closure as many tent shows were found to be unsafe by the City due to the high incidence of nitrate film projection fires. So at the end of its fifth successful season, the Williams tore down their tent picture show in favor of a $20,000 hard top Ashland Theater built with the predecessor’s proceeds.
The “new” hardtop Ashland Theatre opened in May of 1915. Louis W. Vick took on the venue. He would wire it with DeForest Phonofilm sound in 1929 to keep the Ashland viable. Lena Vick Fiorito co-operated the Ashland and Lee Theaters. The Lee was closed for the summer on May 28, 1949 with the ventilation-challenged venue closed permanently.
Her Ashland Theatre soldiered on to its 36th Anniversary on May 12, 1951 closing with “I Killed Geronimo” & “Timber Fury.” Listed as closed for renovation and likely due to lack of modern ventilation, the Ashland’s renovations don’t take place and the closure is permanent. Both the Lee and the Ashland are listed for sale in 1951 and 1952 with the Ashland becoming a church in 1952. It is assumed that the Ashland is all but demolished serving as the foundation for a new church as the two buildings have little if anything in common.
Building permit issued in February 1915; newspaper story that June noted recent opening of the theatre. Theatre closed on May 11, 1951 with bill of “I Killed Geronimo” & “Timber Fury.”
Church looks too modern to be built around 1915.
The current occupant is the Afrikan Village church. The building doesn’t much resemble a theater these days:
http://tinyurl.com/56kgzy