Hi-Way Theatre
2705 N. Florissant Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63106
2705 N. Florissant Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63106
1 person
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The Montgomery Theatre was built for O.T. Crawford, opening in May 1911, and later taken over by Harry Koplar. The Montgomery Theatre was renamed the Hi-Way Theatre on September 19, 1937 with Tony Martin in “Sing and Be Happy” & Janet Gaynor in “A Star is Born”.
Built in Spanish Renaissance style, the front was rather striking with two columns that rose from each end of the marquee. The Hi-Way Theatre had a small balcony and the restrooms were located in a foyer in the rear of the balcony. One of the things that was notable about the Hi-Way Theatre was its hand dipped ice cream. It has a rather large concession area for a small theatre.
In the auditorium the walls were lined with a red material with scone lighting three to each side of the auditorium. It also had a small stage in front that was used by some of the local schools for performances. The Hi-Way Theatre closed on June 30, 1957 with Anthony Perkins in “Fear Strikes Out” & Charlton Heston in “Three Violent People”. The admission charge at closing was 50 cents for adults and 15 cents for children.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Original name of the theatre was the Montgomery. Theatre renamed in 1937.
Theatre not built by Komm, but by Harry Koplar.
Further research shows the MONTGOMERY was built by O. T. Crawford. When Crawford’s empire began to fall, the Koplars took over his theatres including the Montgomery.
Theatre first appeared in City Directory of 1912.
Theatre closed in June 1957.
From Boxoffice magazine, July 1957:
ST. LOUIS-The Hi-Way Theater, 1,090 seats, at 2705 North Florissant Ave., owned by Norman Probstein and others, has been closed indefinitely. This is a very fine neighborhood house under good management, but it has a real problem in lack of parking.
Theatre opened in May 1911.
This was only a couple of blocks from the North 14th Street shopping district, one of the oldest and busiest in the city. It would have been at Mongomery & N. Florissant, down the street from Bellon’s Market and Carl & Marge’s Tavern. Across the street was the Super Sandwich Shop. I skateboarded in that bank parking lot in the late 60’s. Never knew there had been a theater there.
September 18th, 1937 grand opening ad as Hi-Way in photo section.
The Vaudeville Theatre Company began to build this venue in 1911 at a cost of $20,000. The project was picked up by the Montgomery Theatre Corporation opening in May of 1911. Reopened as the Hi-Way Theatre on September 19, 1937 with “Sing and Be Happy” and “A Star is Born.” Closed at the expiry of a 20-year leasing agreement on June 30, 1957 with “Fear Strikes Out” and “Three Violent People.”