Union Theatre
1510 Union Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63113
1510 Union Boulevard,
St. Louis,
MO
63113
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Arthur Enterprises Inc.
Architects: Bruce F. Barnes
Firms: Duggan & Huff
Functions: Church
Styles: Art Deco
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The Union Theatre was opened October 29, 1910. The Arthur Enterprises Inc. chain (Fanchon & Marco) took over the Union Theatre in 1925 and it seated 1,124. The Union Theatre was a large theatre for a neighborhood house. Two story with a large balcony. White marble front and everything inside was in a forest green and burgundy red. Large stage area with a large screen. The Union Theatre had a large chandelier in the auditorium shaped into a large ball with stained class of different colors that would dim when the features were started. It was closed in May 1938 to be remodeled by architect Bruce F. Barnes and reopened in 1939.
The changing neighborhood and blight caused the closing of the Union Theatre in October 1960.
Shortly after the theatre closed and Arthur Enterprises Inc. stripped the theatre, it was converted into a church for the African American population that had moved into the neighborhood.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Building permit issued in September 1910. Architect the firm of Duggan & Huff.
Owned by Shulim Sigoloff, he leased the theatre to St. Louis Amusement around 1934.
Theatre closed in October 1960.
Correct opening date is October 29, 1910. F&M/SLAC had nothing to do with the theatre until the 1930s.
The outside now looks thoroughly modern – hard to say if iuts new construction or if they simply did extensive remodeling. There’s a modern addition on the side as well.
It’s an absolutely hideous remodel, but that is the old building. Note the roofline under that ugly cladding.
The theatre building is not the building at the corner but the white building just up Union.
Theatre was remodeled in 1939; architect of this was Bruce F. Barnes. Theatre had closed in May 1938; reopened in April 1939. With new seats the capacity was listed as 925.
To clarify: Duggan & Huff the architects of the 1910 structure; Barnes the architect of the 1939 remodel.