Theatre opened in October 1972 as the Jerry Lewis Twin and by the following May was being operated by Arthur Enterprises and had been renamed the Bridgeton. Arthur closed the house in December 1973. Theatre reopened under independent management from November 1974 to April 1975, and closed once again.
The checkered career of the theatre had is final burst of glory when it was operated by Mid-America Theatres from May 1975 until that November as the Bridgewood Theatre. House remained a twin its entire career.
In mid-October 1989 it was announced that Wehrenberg Theatres had purchased the General Cinema operations in the state of Missouri.
On October 29, the Northwest Plaza closed, some two days before the effective date of the takeover. Wehrenberg a few weeks later opened the Northwest Plaza 9 Cine in the newly remodeled, now enclosed, mall.
For its first 24 years of operation, the Brentwood was a typical neighborhood house. In 1965, when Mid-America Theatres was beginning its expansion, the Brentwood was remodeled (design by Martin Bloom and Associates) and reopened with the 2nd-run of “My Fair Lady” that December. The first exclusive first-run engagement at the Brentwood followed in April with “A Thousand Clowns.” Long runs were the norm at the Brentwood with “Midnight Cowboy” running 35 weeks; a hardticket engagement of “The Lion in Winter” running 34. Management changed to RKO Mid-America in 1984, then AMC in 1985. Not fitting AMC’s multi-screen pattern, they closed the theatre in July 1986 saying the Brentwood was “old and inefficient.” The theatre reopened as an indie (with $1.50 admission)briefly, from August to October that year. The final film shown was “Legal Eagles.”
The theatre opened in January 1918 with 1280 seats, an operation of the Consolidated Theatre Company. The theatre soon was operated by Famous Players-Missouri, then City Wide Amusement, and St. Louis Amusement beginning in 1921. In 1941, the house was stripped to the walls and the new design, by Leo Abrams, opened in August with 956 seats. Union difficulties closed the theatre in three weeks, and two months later the theatre was destroyed in a fire of mysterious origin. The theatre reopened in 1943 and ceased operation in June 1953.
Going back to the entries of last November concerning the Life Magazine photo: Shot was taken the night of Friday March 30, 1951. The special midnight show was for the benefit of St. Louis policeman Aloysius Nelke, who had been paralyzed by a burglar’s bullet. As for the two children seen—1) It was a Friday night, no school on Saturday; 2) By themselves? I would think they were with the woman seen immediately behind them.
KenRoe: Many thanks for the updates. I lived in LA 1981-89 and the Vagabond and Gordon were a couple of places I frequented…along with the Tiffany, the Oriental, the Four Star, the Clinton, the Fairfax, the New Beverly, the Pan Pacific. Obviously, I leaned to the inexpensive houses.
George Jones: The Columbia Theatre Houdini appeared at was at 6th & St. Charles downtown. This major vaudeville house closed in mid-1925. The Columbia on Southwest opened in early 1926.
When the St. Charles 10 opened, there was already a 10-screen plex operated by Wehrenberg, the St. Clair 10 in Fairview Heights (Ill.) which had opened in May 1986. The Halls Ferry was still an 8-screen operation when the St. Charles 10 opened.
It may be of interest that, on page 29 of “100 Years of Entertainment”, published for the 100th anniversary of Wehrenberg Theatres, it is said the Cinderella started showing movies in 1915 after being converted from a skating rink. The text also says Wehrenberg acquired the Cinderella in 1924. While the text does not say who did the conversion, it seems doubtful that Wehrenberg would have done so before acquiring the house.
My research shows this operational timeline:
November 1913 – Opens as dance hall/skating rink.
October 9, 1915 – Freund Bros. begin movie house operation.
October 1925 – St. Louis Amusement takes over operation.
October 1928 – Fred Wehrenberg takes over operation.
Sept. 27, 1958 – Wehrenberg closes as movie house with bill of “Bridge Over the River Kwai” with “The Long Haul.”
Still more names: in the 70s theatre known as the Studio Cinema, Studio World. Finally, in the early 80s became the Comet West End, after the Comet on Finney had closed.
An article in the Post-Dispatch on August 5, 1985 told of its being demolished.
That is correct. The attraction was a Grand Ole Opry show with Roy Acoff, Kitty Wells, Johnnie and Jack, Pop and his Jug Band, Smoky Mountain Boys, Tennessee Mountain Boys, and “Extra Added: Sensational New Star” Elvis Presley. Two shows the nights of the 21st and 22nd, three on the 23rd. Admission: 75-cents in advance; $1.00 at the door. Kids 25-cents.
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.
Your recollection is correct, the Galleria became a 6-screen operation in March 1988.
Theatre opened in October 1972 as the Jerry Lewis Twin and by the following May was being operated by Arthur Enterprises and had been renamed the Bridgeton. Arthur closed the house in December 1973. Theatre reopened under independent management from November 1974 to April 1975, and closed once again.
The checkered career of the theatre had is final burst of glory when it was operated by Mid-America Theatres from May 1975 until that November as the Bridgewood Theatre. House remained a twin its entire career.
In mid-October 1989 it was announced that Wehrenberg Theatres had purchased the General Cinema operations in the state of Missouri.
On October 29, the Northwest Plaza closed, some two days before the effective date of the takeover. Wehrenberg a few weeks later opened the Northwest Plaza 9 Cine in the newly remodeled, now enclosed, mall.
For its first 24 years of operation, the Brentwood was a typical neighborhood house. In 1965, when Mid-America Theatres was beginning its expansion, the Brentwood was remodeled (design by Martin Bloom and Associates) and reopened with the 2nd-run of “My Fair Lady” that December. The first exclusive first-run engagement at the Brentwood followed in April with “A Thousand Clowns.” Long runs were the norm at the Brentwood with “Midnight Cowboy” running 35 weeks; a hardticket engagement of “The Lion in Winter” running 34. Management changed to RKO Mid-America in 1984, then AMC in 1985. Not fitting AMC’s multi-screen pattern, they closed the theatre in July 1986 saying the Brentwood was “old and inefficient.” The theatre reopened as an indie (with $1.50 admission)briefly, from August to October that year. The final film shown was “Legal Eagles.”
The theatre opened in January 1918 with 1280 seats, an operation of the Consolidated Theatre Company. The theatre soon was operated by Famous Players-Missouri, then City Wide Amusement, and St. Louis Amusement beginning in 1921. In 1941, the house was stripped to the walls and the new design, by Leo Abrams, opened in August with 956 seats. Union difficulties closed the theatre in three weeks, and two months later the theatre was destroyed in a fire of mysterious origin. The theatre reopened in 1943 and ceased operation in June 1953.
Going back to the entries of last November concerning the Life Magazine photo: Shot was taken the night of Friday March 30, 1951. The special midnight show was for the benefit of St. Louis policeman Aloysius Nelke, who had been paralyzed by a burglar’s bullet. As for the two children seen—1) It was a Friday night, no school on Saturday; 2) By themselves? I would think they were with the woman seen immediately behind them.
The theatre closed March 30, 1989 as a dollar-house. In one auditorium was “The Naked Gun”; the other with “The Accidental Tourist” and “Tap”.
The transition from an 8-plex to a 14-plex occurred on April 7, 1989. In its publicity, Wehrenberg claimed “The Largest Theatre in the Midwest.”
Can be observed from the right side and shortly before the Alton station stop.
Theatre still there, unused of course. Observed yesterday while passing by on Amtrak.
KenRoe: Many thanks for the updates. I lived in LA 1981-89 and the Vagabond and Gordon were a couple of places I frequented…along with the Tiffany, the Oriental, the Four Star, the Clinton, the Fairfax, the New Beverly, the Pan Pacific. Obviously, I leaned to the inexpensive houses.
Can’t bring up the Vagabond on the site…hmmm.
Also, what was the Gordon (on LaBrea south of Melrose) renamed?
General Cinema opened as a 6-screen in December 1988.
The Avalon has been added to the Landmarks Association of St. Louis listing of Most Endangered Buildings for 2009.
In 1984 became a RKO Mid-America operation; in 1985 AMC.
AMC closed in November 1987 with the films “Prince of Darkness” and “The Pick-Up Artist.”
George Jones: The Columbia Theatre Houdini appeared at was at 6th & St. Charles downtown. This major vaudeville house closed in mid-1925. The Columbia on Southwest opened in early 1926.
Opened in May 1986.
As well, in addition to the info mentioned immediately above, the AMC Northwest Square 10 had opened in June 1986.
When the St. Charles 10 opened, there was already a 10-screen plex operated by Wehrenberg, the St. Clair 10 in Fairview Heights (Ill.) which had opened in May 1986. The Halls Ferry was still an 8-screen operation when the St. Charles 10 opened.
It may be of interest that, on page 29 of “100 Years of Entertainment”, published for the 100th anniversary of Wehrenberg Theatres, it is said the Cinderella started showing movies in 1915 after being converted from a skating rink. The text also says Wehrenberg acquired the Cinderella in 1924. While the text does not say who did the conversion, it seems doubtful that Wehrenberg would have done so before acquiring the house.
My research shows this operational timeline:
November 1913 – Opens as dance hall/skating rink.
October 9, 1915 – Freund Bros. begin movie house operation.
October 1925 – St. Louis Amusement takes over operation.
October 1928 – Fred Wehrenberg takes over operation.
Sept. 27, 1958 – Wehrenberg closes as movie house with bill of “Bridge Over the River Kwai” with “The Long Haul.”
To avoid confusion:
An article in the Post-Dispatch on August 5, 1985 told of the demolishment taking place of the Comet West End.
Still more names: in the 70s theatre known as the Studio Cinema, Studio World. Finally, in the early 80s became the Comet West End, after the Comet on Finney had closed.
An article in the Post-Dispatch on August 5, 1985 told of its being demolished.
That is correct. The attraction was a Grand Ole Opry show with Roy Acoff, Kitty Wells, Johnnie and Jack, Pop and his Jug Band, Smoky Mountain Boys, Tennessee Mountain Boys, and “Extra Added: Sensational New Star” Elvis Presley. Two shows the nights of the 21st and 22nd, three on the 23rd. Admission: 75-cents in advance; $1.00 at the door. Kids 25-cents.
Theatre opened in January 1937. The architect was O. W. Stiegemeyer.
Name changed to Kirkwood Cinema in June 1968.
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.