The pic I have is what is called a study print from the society , which means it is a copy from a copy machine of the photo. It also means that it cannot be published, only studied. At that time a copy in picture form that can be published cost $75 from the Mo. Hist. Soc. and it can be published.
JamesGrebe
In 1929 on display in the Fox lobby, right in line with the steps, was a Curtis-Wright airplane. The single engine aircraft was there in recognition of National Aircraft Month. I have a 8X10 B& W from the Mo Hist. Society showing the same.
JamesGrebe
Hi Patsy,
You are right on the slave clocks. I just happened to read an article a few days ago on the clocks used in public schools. They, too, were slave clocks so all the clocks in the building showed the same time.
On slave consoles, usually they did not have the stop tabs connected but worked the combo action. This is different from the instalations with dual consoles like the Radio City Music Hall Wurli in NY.
THe third organ referred to probably was not an organ but the slave console ( for the 36r)that once was in the building. None of the stop keys worked but the combo action did. The console was bought by John Ferguson of Indiana. The Fox lobby Wurli is from the Majestic in E. St. Louis. Norm Kraemer, local organist bought it form the theatre and later the St. Louis ATOS bought it from him The organ speak from different location than the original Moller did. The Wurli is up around 10 ranks now and is maintained by St. Louis ATOS
JamesGrebe
In the 1950’s, Debbie Reynold appeared there in a play. I had a client who had an autographed copy of the playbill from when she went to see her.
JamesGrebe
O.T. Crawford is the same man that made the ‘Gayety Theatre" from the moved out 1st Presbyterian Church at Loust and 14th street, now a parking lot.lding to now put on vaudeville acts. BertLahr appeared there.
JamesGrebe
The Orpheum had a Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ of 2 manuals. It chamber was loceated under the stage and spoke out throught the orchestra pit. The fate of the organ is unknown so far.
JamesGrebe
During the 1970’s when rock shows were put on in the theatre I tuned many of the pianos that were used there. I got to roam the building almost always. The organ, a 4m25r Wurli was sold to Fred Pilsbury FOR $35K. Fred never got around to installing it, he already had the McVickers Wurli from Chicago in his home. He paid $35k for it. I have pictures of the console while it wAs still in Fred’s warehouse near Union Staion. The console was also in silver leaf. The Tibia Clausa from the organ became Allen Organ’s first sampled Tibia in their digital organs. Fred then bought Allen’s biggest digital organ they made up to that point. It had 7 computers in it and had 20- 100watt amps and 21 speaker cabinets. The Allen is now in Rickman Auditrium in Arnold, MO.
JamesGrebe
This was the first airdome and the projection booth for the airdome is still in the lot next to the building. My parents went there when they were young
JamesGrebe
I,during the 1980’s owned the organ that originally was installed in the Grand. It was a Kimball 2m/8 r organ installed in 1 chamber. The opus date of the organ was 1921 so I do not know why the theatre listed 1923 as opening. Dr. Kuntz was the first organist but since he was a professor at Wheaton College he had to quit as a theatre organist was not quite uppity enough. After the organ was removed in the talkie era it served the First Pres Ch of Kankakee, IL and at that time a harp was added to the percussions. In the 70’s they removed the Kimball with a new Keates pipe organ and I bought the organ form a warehouse floor in Kanakee, IL for $3,000.00. I had the organ installed in 2 of my homes and then sold it as I was moving into a much smaller home. The trumpet for the Kimball is now in my friend, Bern Nordmann’s 3m/13r organ in his home in Kirkwood, MO. The rest of it is in northern MO and was never reassembled after the fellow bout it from me for $2500.00. When I visited the Grand in the later time I had a picture of the marqwue and the movie, “Silent Movie” was playing. In the theatre the Kimball was on the left side of the stage area and on a little platform.
JamesGrebe
As the theatre was being torn down I was able to get in to scavange and I have somewhere the plexiglass “Aisle 3” sign that marked the same. I also have pics that I took in various stages of it being tore down. On the stage was a Shultz grand piano that I assume went down also. It was located behind the screen. The Majestic in East St. Louis had the same type front.
JamesGrebe
THe Apache/New Shenandoah was the classier of the Soulard S. Broaadway theatres. The difference between the Peerless and the Apache is that the Apache had upholstered seats where the Peerless had only wood. The Apache held the first closed circuit TV broadcast on the movie screen of a well publisided boxing match. The consession stand was in a separate room from the theatre and the drikning fountain was tiled with 2 drinkers.. Gene Smith was also a usher there also in the 1950.s.
Interested in talking to anyone about this theatre and the Peerless.
JamesGrebe
The pic I have is what is called a study print from the society , which means it is a copy from a copy machine of the photo. It also means that it cannot be published, only studied. At that time a copy in picture form that can be published cost $75 from the Mo. Hist. Soc. and it can be published.
JamesGrebe
In 1929 on display in the Fox lobby, right in line with the steps, was a Curtis-Wright airplane. The single engine aircraft was there in recognition of National Aircraft Month. I have a 8X10 B& W from the Mo Hist. Society showing the same.
JamesGrebe
The dates Debbie Reynold played the Empress were 3/2/54 to 3/14/54 and the play was, “GiGi"
On the plabill it says simply Olive at Grand
Thanks Brian, now I know how
JamesGrebe
Hi Patsy,
You are right on the slave clocks. I just happened to read an article a few days ago on the clocks used in public schools. They, too, were slave clocks so all the clocks in the building showed the same time.
On slave consoles, usually they did not have the stop tabs connected but worked the combo action. This is different from the instalations with dual consoles like the Radio City Music Hall Wurli in NY.
Where is the photo?
JamesGrebe
THe third organ referred to probably was not an organ but the slave console ( for the 36r)that once was in the building. None of the stop keys worked but the combo action did. The console was bought by John Ferguson of Indiana. The Fox lobby Wurli is from the Majestic in E. St. Louis. Norm Kraemer, local organist bought it form the theatre and later the St. Louis ATOS bought it from him The organ speak from different location than the original Moller did. The Wurli is up around 10 ranks now and is maintained by St. Louis ATOS
JamesGrebe
Indeed, Tom Terry did play the Fox WUrli. If he played an electronic at the Esquire it may have been an early Hammond.
JamesGrebe
In the 1950’s, Debbie Reynold appeared there in a play. I had a client who had an autographed copy of the playbill from when she went to see her.
JamesGrebe
There was a Msasonic type organization occupying the buiolding a few years ago. I was able to go in to see . Just a big hall now.
JamesGrebe
There was A KIlgen Theatre Pipe Organ installed in the Columbia in the 1920’s Whereabouts unknown
JamesGrebe
Local organist, Gerry Marion, plays aan electronic theatre organ (Conn) before shows on the weeknds
JamesGrebe
A Kilgen Thetare Pipe Organ was installed in the Cinderella. When towards the end the pipe organ was thrown into the alley behind.
JamesGrebe
O.T. Crawford is the same man that made the ‘Gayety Theatre" from the moved out 1st Presbyterian Church at Loust and 14th street, now a parking lot.lding to now put on vaudeville acts. BertLahr appeared there.
JamesGrebe
The Aubert had the only Robert Morton Theatre Pipe rgan in St. Louis. Fate of the organ is unknown
JamesGrebe
Yes, the old Cooks store sits on the site.
JamesGrebe
The Orpheum had a Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ of 2 manuals. It chamber was loceated under the stage and spoke out throught the orchestra pit. The fate of the organ is unknown so far.
JamesGrebe
The Melba and most of the theatres that bore that name were named after the very popular singer of the ealy 1900’s, Nellie Melba.
She is also famous for the other 2 things named after her, Melba Toast and Peachm Melba.
JamesGrebe
During the 1970’s when rock shows were put on in the theatre I tuned many of the pianos that were used there. I got to roam the building almost always. The organ, a 4m25r Wurli was sold to Fred Pilsbury FOR $35K. Fred never got around to installing it, he already had the McVickers Wurli from Chicago in his home. He paid $35k for it. I have pictures of the console while it wAs still in Fred’s warehouse near Union Staion. The console was also in silver leaf. The Tibia Clausa from the organ became Allen Organ’s first sampled Tibia in their digital organs. Fred then bought Allen’s biggest digital organ they made up to that point. It had 7 computers in it and had 20- 100watt amps and 21 speaker cabinets. The Allen is now in Rickman Auditrium in Arnold, MO.
JamesGrebe
This was the first airdome and the projection booth for the airdome is still in the lot next to the building. My parents went there when they were young
JamesGrebe
I,during the 1980’s owned the organ that originally was installed in the Grand. It was a Kimball 2m/8 r organ installed in 1 chamber. The opus date of the organ was 1921 so I do not know why the theatre listed 1923 as opening. Dr. Kuntz was the first organist but since he was a professor at Wheaton College he had to quit as a theatre organist was not quite uppity enough. After the organ was removed in the talkie era it served the First Pres Ch of Kankakee, IL and at that time a harp was added to the percussions. In the 70’s they removed the Kimball with a new Keates pipe organ and I bought the organ form a warehouse floor in Kanakee, IL for $3,000.00. I had the organ installed in 2 of my homes and then sold it as I was moving into a much smaller home. The trumpet for the Kimball is now in my friend, Bern Nordmann’s 3m/13r organ in his home in Kirkwood, MO. The rest of it is in northern MO and was never reassembled after the fellow bout it from me for $2500.00. When I visited the Grand in the later time I had a picture of the marqwue and the movie, “Silent Movie” was playing. In the theatre the Kimball was on the left side of the stage area and on a little platform.
JamesGrebe
Are you refering to “Mantlelight” It was sort of a White Castle type and had 0.10c hamburgers
JamesGrebe
Hi Charles,
Can you write to me direct.
I have much to talk to you about my memories there.
Thanks
JamesGrebe
As the theatre was being torn down I was able to get in to scavange and I have somewhere the plexiglass “Aisle 3” sign that marked the same. I also have pics that I took in various stages of it being tore down. On the stage was a Shultz grand piano that I assume went down also. It was located behind the screen. The Majestic in East St. Louis had the same type front.
JamesGrebe
THe Apache/New Shenandoah was the classier of the Soulard S. Broaadway theatres. The difference between the Peerless and the Apache is that the Apache had upholstered seats where the Peerless had only wood. The Apache held the first closed circuit TV broadcast on the movie screen of a well publisided boxing match. The consession stand was in a separate room from the theatre and the drikning fountain was tiled with 2 drinkers.. Gene Smith was also a usher there also in the 1950.s.
Interested in talking to anyone about this theatre and the Peerless.
JamesGrebe