Stadium Cinema I

510 Chestnut Street,
St. Louis, MO 63101

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Wehrenberg Theatres

Firms: Murphy & MacKey

Styles: Streamline Moderne

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News About This Theater

Stadium Cinema I

The Stadium Cinema I was built in 1967 and seated 596. Located in the Stadium Garage on the first level facing the Keiner Memorial Plaza. The got its name from the Busch Stadium since it faced the stadium. When it first opened in downtown St. Louis it was the first new theatre built in downtown in more than 35 years.

It had an upstairs bar and restaurant that served the businessmen of downtown. One of the noted features that played the Stadium Cinema I was “Last Tango In Paris”. The theatre was picketed for the entire run of the movie. It mostly ran mainstream first run features with an ocassional art film.

It closed in 1982 with the bankruptcy of the Arthur Theatre chain.the Stadium pre dated most theatre in that it had a stadium style seating.

Contributed by Charles Van Bibber

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on May 11, 2004 at 7:25 pm

As I recall, the Stadium Cinema I and II were taken over by Wehrenberg after the Arthur bankruptcy. I saw movies at both theatres as recently as 1983.

JAlex
JAlex on June 17, 2005 at 1:39 pm

Stadium I opened May 24, 1967 with hard-ticket run of “The Taming of the Shrew.” Architectural design by the firm of Murphy & Mackey.

JAlex
JAlex on August 31, 2006 at 9:11 pm

Stadium I (and Stadium II) closed in June 1984. Indeed, Wehrenberg operated in final years.

Kerry Manderbach
Kerry Manderbach on February 18, 2008 at 7:46 am

Yes, “Last Tango in Paris” as well as “Jaws”, Missouri Breaks", “French Connection” and “The Sting” to name several notable films. I seem to remember going there as late as 1988…but maybe I’m thinking of a different theater…

Cholla
Cholla on November 19, 2010 at 7:34 pm

No way these theatres could have opened in 1961 facing Busch Memorial Stadium, it wasn’t open until 1967. They were touted along with the stadium as part of the “revitalization” of downtown.
They are still “revitalizing” and it hasn’t worked yet.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 12, 2016 at 2:44 am

Undated exterior image added courtesy of Erik T. Kreft.

MitchWolf
MitchWolf on September 14, 2019 at 4:53 am

Add an ad for Stadium 1 Cine Re-opening as a Wehrenburg cinema in May 28th, 1978 in the photo section

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