Richmond Theatre
1025 S. Big Bend,
Richmond Heights,
MO
63117
1025 S. Big Bend,
Richmond Heights,
MO
63117
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Located in Richmond Heights, to the west of St. Louis, MO. The Richmond Theatre opened on October 23, 1935 with William Powell in “Escapade” & Spencer Tracy in “The Murder Man”. It had 622-seats and was part of the Fanchon & Marco chain and later became part of the Arthur Enterprises Inc. The Richmond Theatre was located just around the corner from the much larger Esquire Theatre. It played to a different clientele than the Esquire Theatre though. It was always first run and ran the more classy movies in the early days. In its later life it was noted for its art theatre format, running art, independent, and foreign films. When the Esquire Theatre was remodelled and Mid-America Theatres made it a first run house and the Arthur Enterprises started showing art films at the nearby Shady Oak Theatre the days were numbered for the Richmond Theatre.
Arthur Enterprises tried a second run policy but the clientele in that area were not into second run theatres. The Richmond Theatre closed quietly in 1966. The building went over to retail use. It had always had retail shops attached to the front but the theatre itself became a sporting goods store. The auditorium and lobby have since been demolished and only the upper parts of the façade exist.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Opening date of Richmond was October 23, 1935.
Built by Oscar Lehr; then operated by Kieselhorst & Wilson (who also operated the Shady Oak); in 1937 leased to St. Louis Amusement.
Theatre operated for years as a neighborhood house. Became an art house in the 50s.
Closed as a movie house in December 1959. In October 1960 the Southtown Players, a dramatic group, moved in and presented their productions there until June 1970.
The Richmond Theatre was actually located in Richmond Heights, MO.
Looks like the upper story is there, but the auditorium and lobby were torn out for parking.
I guess this should be listed as demolished.
I can verify the lobby and auditorium are gone. You drive through the former lobby to get to the parking lot where the auditorium was.
Opened Oct. 23, 1935 with “Escapade” and “Murder Man.”