Missouri Theatre

Mr. Van Bibber is not even remotely correct about the Missouri Rockets. He fails to give credit to the person who formed the troup, Russell Market. The history of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes begins at the Missouri Theater. Eventually, Markert’s Rockets caught the eye of Samuel L. (Roxy) Rothapfel and they moved to New York City to appear at the Roxy Theater as the Roxyettes, beginning in March 1927.

Russell Markert and Roxyettes were lured away by Roxy when he moved eastward along 50th Street to open the Radio City Muisc Hall on December 27, 1932. In the beginning at the Music Hall, they were known as the Radio City Music Hall Roxyettes. But when Roxy was eventually fired as Director of the Music Hall and the Center (nee RKO Roxy) Theater, the Roxyettes' name was changed to Rockettes in 1934, the name being influenced by the Rockefeller name.

Sources of this information include:

Ben M. Hall, The Best Remaining Seats
Daniel Okrent, Great Fortune
Gail G. Hannah, Radio City Music Hall: A Legend Is Reborn (This is a booklet that was produced by Radio City Entertainment on the restoration of the Music Hall.)

I trust that this information gives correct and factual information about the Missouri Rockets.

You are right JAlex, Skouras Brothers did not build the St. Louis Theatre. Also, Charles if you read through the comments above, you do not mention that the Rocket Girls became the Rockettes. All you say is that they moved on to the Roxy theater.

The Missouri Rocket Girls would go on to become the even more famouse Radia City Rockettes.

JUST AN UPDATE…THIS IS “NOT” THE EXTERIOR OF THE MISSOURI THEATRE IN ST. LOUIS…I SUBMITTED THIS PICTURE AS THE EXTERIOR OF THE MISSOURI THEATRE IN ST. JOSEPH, MO…SO TO ALL FANS OF THIS WEBSITE…PLEASE NOTE THIS CORRECTION! THANK YOU!

MY BEST…WILLIAM HAMILTON