Hi-Way Theatre

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.”

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.

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.

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.