Comments from JAlex

Showing 326 - 350 of 723 comments

JAlex
JAlex commented about Liberty Theatre on Jan 31, 2010 at 1:18 pm

It would seem the theatre reopened in late 1944. A news story appearing in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat in January 1945 related that the mayor of East St. Louis ordered the New Liberty Theatre to stop showing “adults only” type of films that it had been exhibiting for three months. Max Wald, the manager, then said he would change to “general interest” films. How long this policy lasted is not known.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Orpheum Theatre on Jan 29, 2010 at 1:08 pm

The re-do of the porte cochere on the St. Charles side of the theatre was completed last December.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Cross Keys Cinema on Jan 24, 2010 at 5:52 pm

Theatre closed in January 1999…at the time operated by John Moseley.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Booker T. Washington Theatre on Jan 7, 2010 at 2:24 pm

In March 1913 it was announced that Charles Turpin has leased the site at the southeast corner of 23rd and Market for a theatre. He had been operating an airdome on the site for four years. The cost of the structure was to be $29,000 and the architect was J. M. Hirschstein.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Bel-Air Drive-In on Dec 27, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Venue operated from 1953 to 1986. The second screen was added in 1979.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Marshfield Theater on Dec 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Was this one of the theatres operated by O. T. Crawford, of St. Louis, in the early 19-teens?

JAlex
JAlex commented about Bonanza Theatre on Dec 26, 2009 at 2:26 pm

A systematic search of City Directories shows the Bonanza appearing from 1909 to 1916.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Union Theatre on Dec 20, 2009 at 4:21 pm

Correct opening date is October 29, 1910. F&M/SLAC had nothing to do with the theatre until the 1930s.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Madison Theater on Dec 18, 2009 at 2:15 pm

The Midwest edition of Boxoffice of 10/24/60 had the item that “the Madison Theatre is being closed and dismantled. All the fixtures will be sold.”

JAlex
JAlex commented about Victory Theatre on Dec 17, 2009 at 4:03 am

One of the many theatres built and initially operated by O. T. Crawford, the Mikado opened its doors November 29, 1911 with a policy of vaudeville, musical comedy and films. At its opening, the publicity stated “The only theatre in America finished in Japanese Renaissance.”

JAlex
JAlex commented about Shenandoah Theatre on Dec 17, 2009 at 3:59 am

One of the many theatres built and initially operated by O. T. Crawford. The Shenandoah opened May 4, 1912 with a policy of vaudeville, musical comedy and movies.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Hi-Way Theatre on Dec 17, 2009 at 3:56 am

Theatre opened in May 1911.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Beverly Theater on Dec 12, 2009 at 5:45 pm

All ten of the religious & charitable groups I mentioned had an equal holding (10%) of the theatre. A newspaper report said each group was getting $66 a month under the lease for the theatre. The story broke in January 1984; the theatre property was sold to a local realtor that July.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Beverly Theater on Dec 12, 2009 at 12:55 am

Ah, once again the ownership of the theatre in its “X” days comes to the fore.

There were ten recipients in the wills of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Halloway. In addition to the Beverly were the Gem and the Airway Drive-In.

The ten recipients were: the St. Louis Catholic Archdiocese, the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, the Evangelical Children’s Home, Emmaus Homes, the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the Sisters of St. Mary, the St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, the German St. Vincent Home, the Athletic Boys Club of St. Louis and the St. Jude Childrens Research
Hospital.

JAlex
JAlex commented about St. Clair Theatre on Dec 11, 2009 at 5:37 pm

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat account of the fire of October 16, 1947 said the theatre was destroyed. The account also said the theatre was 40 years old (meaning it possibly opened in 1907?) and at one time was known as the Odeon.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Garrick Theatre on Nov 20, 2009 at 1:56 pm

Theatre opened December 26, 1904. (The World’s Fair, incidentally, had closed December 1.)

JAlex
JAlex commented about Bismarck Theatre on Nov 14, 2009 at 1:08 pm

Appeared in the 1912 City Directory as the Bismarck.
Appeared in the 1914, 1915 and 1916 Directories as the Lynch.

In 1930, the structure appeared in the City Directory as a bowling alley.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Melvin Theatre on Nov 10, 2009 at 4:17 pm

My research shows the final day (night) of operation was October 18, 1992.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Capitol Theatre on Nov 3, 2009 at 7:03 pm

Theatre opened in March, 1926 with the opening film being “The Dancer of Paris.”

JAlex
JAlex commented about Pageant Theatre on Oct 30, 2009 at 6:45 pm

Yes, it was the Pageant that had the Disney “Sleeping Beauty."
The run was from June 12 to September 17. Admission=$1.50.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Regal O'Fallon Stadium 14 on Oct 29, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Venue opened September 9, 2005 with 2200 seats.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Mid Rivers 14 Cine' on Oct 28, 2009 at 4:54 pm

The Mid Rivers 6 was closed in March 1999.

The new Mid Rivers 14 opened December 10, 1999.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Congress Theatre on Oct 22, 2009 at 6:53 pm

As noted once before, the theatre was built in 1911 as the Olive and operated under the same management as the Delmar Theatre. In 1913 it was renamed the Marguerite Clark (the stage & screen actress who lived from 1883 to 1940). In 1915 the theatre became a full-time film house, owned by the Greek Consul in St. Louis A. M. E. Pasmezoglu who operated a number of film theatres in the community.
In 1925, theatre was leased to St. Louis Amusement who operated the theatre until 1945. In that year, theatre came under the wing of Joe Litvag, who operated until closure in July 1954.

Capacity of the house originally was 1096, later reduced to 898.

After closure as a theatre, the structure was used as a church and was eventually demolished.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Chesterfield Mall 4 Cine' on Oct 17, 2009 at 12:06 pm

Wehrenberg closed the theatre November 5, 2000. They did not file for bankruptcy until January 26, 2001.

JAlex
JAlex commented about Keller Plaza 8 on Oct 17, 2009 at 12:01 pm

In addition to the correction needed for the opening year, another is needed for the fact that Wehrenberg pulled out of the operation of the theatre before it filed for bankruptcy. Wehrenberg’s last date of operation was 11/5/2000; they filed for bankruptcy 1/26/2001.