Correction: It was never once operated by Dickinson Theatres. The Crown Cinema Corporation operated the Capitol 4 until Hollywood Theaters bought the Crown chain in September 1996.
Correction: It was never once operated by Dickinson Theatres. The Crown Cinema Corporation operated the Ramada 4 until Hollywood Theaters bought the Crown chain in September 1996.
The Twin Drive-In in Jeffersonville is a very unique twin-screen drive-in due to several reasons. At first, it had two sets of traces in a one-mile radius in two separate properties facing both the east and west sides.
The west side screen closed and was later demolished when Interstate 65 was expanded into Jeffersonville in the early 1960s, leaving the east side screen only in operation until the late-1980s or early-1990s.
The Jefferson Theatre opened its doors on December 26, 1904 with a live presentation of “Glittering Gloria” starring Ms. Isadore Rush alongside musical performances by an unknown orchestra originated from St. Louis. The Jefferson Theatre was managed by William J. Edwards who was familiar in his early show business in Jefferson City until his death in February 1913.
The Jefferson Theatre was later operated by the Dubinsky Brothers in the 1920s. It continued operating as a movie theater until 1931, and officially became a special events theater until closing in November 1935. In 1937, the Dubinsky Brothers announced that the Jefferson Theatre would reopen in July of that same year following extensive remodeling, but unfortunately it appears that the theater never reopened at all.
On December 4, 1950, the building was destroyed by a fire.
In January 1908, a deal was consummated led by 75-year-old Mr. George F. Olendorf to build Central Missouri’s second airdome on Main Street in site of a long-demolished church. The idea came shortly after the opening of Sedalia’s Airdome Theatre in May 1907, in which business people had planned on an airdome in the Missouri capital for months. Some of those who planned on the Airdome in Jefferson City are Fred Sessinghans and Stokes Griffin and his company, who would later begin construction of the Airdome on February 15, 1908. Longtime early local theater manager, William J. Edwards, replied to Olendorf that he’ll take over as the manager, but with both men connected with the enterprise, there is no question about the success thereof. Olendorf formed his own Amusement Company in Topeka, Kansas while Jefferson City’s Airdome was still under construction. His amusement company was known as the Olendorf-Bell-Ballard Amusement Company led by Olendorf himself as president, alongside 75-year-old W.W. Bell (of Pittsburg, Kansas) and 75-year-old L.F. Ballard, alongside their 1 to 5-year-old children. His business owns a circuit of airdomes in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.
Jefferson City’s Airdome Theatre opened its doors on May 18, 1908. The Airdome had some success for its first few years, but when it reached its fourth season, personal business immediately fell and the management closed the Airdome after the 1912 season. Manager William J. Edwards later died from an illness on the morning of February 3, 1913 at his home in Jefferson City.
The Gem Electric Theatre opened its doors on August 28, 1909, and the name was later shorten to just Gem Theatre a few years later. Later taken over by the Dubinsky Brothers, the Gem Theatre did once close during the final quarter of 1935 due to renovation that started that November, and reopened in August 1937 as a dime house. Unfortunately it appears that it didn’t do as much business, and closed around a year later.
After being abandoned throughout the war and after, the Gem Theatre building received reconstruction during 1947 (with several halts due to vehicle accidents).
The old Gem Theatre received a makeover and relaunched as the Roxy Theatre on October 2, 1947 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Sinbad The Sailor” with no extra short subjects. This came as a partial replacement of the short-lived Highway Theatre on Dunklin due to Highway 50 construction the following year. It had the same film policy as the Highway Theatre. At first, it was an all-year indoor theater with a primary mix of first-run and second-run features, but unfortunately it was closed in August 1948 for unknown reasons. After reopening by Durwood Theatres led by Arnold Gould on Christmas Day 1949, it became a seasonal movie house running from December to March as well as an updated film policy (running a mix of As and Bs). Unfortunately again for unknown reasons, the Roxy closed again in March 1950. It never reopened for the Winter 1950-1951 season.
NOTE: I accidentally added a duplicate page on accident, I hope they can fix it soon.
More Corrections: The Highway Theatre was the first seasonal indoor movie theater in Jefferson City, and the State Theatre is not a dominate mainstream theater. Only the Capitol Theatre is the dominant mainstream movie house in Jefferson City.
As of 1947, the State Theatre does show only a minimum of first-run features. The State Theatre is primarily a double-feature second-run house (sometimes third-run) with B things on weekends. Right after the Highway Theatre closed, the Roxy Theatre launched with a similar policy to the Highway Theatre and was also operated seasonally. The Roxy ran a mix of first-run and second-run features. Some first-run features the Roxy ran include “Fun and Fancy Free” but the Roxy did brought back some films that either came from the Highway or the Capitol, such as “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Song Of The South”. Speaking of Disney, Disney films were very spotty at the time. “Fun and Fancy Free” ran at the Roxy while “Melody Time” ran at the Capitol. Two first-runs in two theaters does make sense for a city with 43,000 people.
Cecil Hoffman was the first manager of the Skylark.
Hoffman, a native of Topeka, Kansas who lived in Jefferson City as a young boy, was lucky to be alive at the age of 18 after he accidentally swallowed a large three-inch pin into his throat while cleaning his new car on October 15, 1935. He was transported by ambulance to St. Louis where surgeons removed the pin from his throat at Barnes Hospital.
Corrections: The Highway Theatre is an indoor movie house, not a drive-in theater. It was very confusing because of its name. It was located on 700 W Dunklin St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Also, the Highway Theatre ran primarily first-run features, but it can sometimes do either a second-run, a rerelease, or a weekend double-feature of a second-run/B thing in once in a while. In portions of its history, some of the first-run features the Highway Theatre played would’ve been shown at either the Capitol Theatre or the State Theatre, such as “Ceasar and Cleopatra” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” (the Capitol would’ve picked up both titles nonetheless, but its surprising to see both titles running in a short-lived theater).
The Highway Theatre did not appear as much in advertisements, some of which including opening date were unclear due to lost info. Showtimes for the Highway Theatre as I surfaced only appeared during the middle of both years, meaning that the Highway Theatre could be a seasonal movie house (possibly from May to September).
The Highway Theatre closed after 1947 following reconstruction on Highway 50 in May 1948 which the Kieselbach Corporation company had granted two permits for improvements on Highway 50. The theater was demolished the following month to make way for a used car lot for Sexton Motors.
Any other additional information on the Highway Theatre would be greatly appreciated, and will be updated as soon as we get information.
Once operated by Mid-America Theatres.
Last operated by United Artists, and closed in November 1997.
Correction: It was never once operated by Dickinson Theatres. The Crown Cinema Corporation operated the Capitol 4 until Hollywood Theaters bought the Crown chain in September 1996.
Correction: It was never once operated by Dickinson Theatres. The Crown Cinema Corporation operated the Ramada 4 until Hollywood Theaters bought the Crown chain in September 1996.
The Twin Drive-In in Jeffersonville is a very unique twin-screen drive-in due to several reasons. At first, it had two sets of traces in a one-mile radius in two separate properties facing both the east and west sides.
The west side screen closed and was later demolished when Interstate 65 was expanded into Jeffersonville in the early 1960s, leaving the east side screen only in operation until the late-1980s or early-1990s.
The actual opening date is December 17, 1999.
Opened on July 30, 1911 and closed in mid-1912.
Opened on June 6, 1911, closed on March 4, 1915.
The Jefferson Theatre opened its doors on December 26, 1904 with a live presentation of “Glittering Gloria” starring Ms. Isadore Rush alongside musical performances by an unknown orchestra originated from St. Louis. The Jefferson Theatre was managed by William J. Edwards who was familiar in his early show business in Jefferson City until his death in February 1913.
The Jefferson Theatre was later operated by the Dubinsky Brothers in the 1920s. It continued operating as a movie theater until 1931, and officially became a special events theater until closing in November 1935. In 1937, the Dubinsky Brothers announced that the Jefferson Theatre would reopen in July of that same year following extensive remodeling, but unfortunately it appears that the theater never reopened at all.
On December 4, 1950, the building was destroyed by a fire.
In January 1908, a deal was consummated led by 75-year-old Mr. George F. Olendorf to build Central Missouri’s second airdome on Main Street in site of a long-demolished church. The idea came shortly after the opening of Sedalia’s Airdome Theatre in May 1907, in which business people had planned on an airdome in the Missouri capital for months. Some of those who planned on the Airdome in Jefferson City are Fred Sessinghans and Stokes Griffin and his company, who would later begin construction of the Airdome on February 15, 1908. Longtime early local theater manager, William J. Edwards, replied to Olendorf that he’ll take over as the manager, but with both men connected with the enterprise, there is no question about the success thereof. Olendorf formed his own Amusement Company in Topeka, Kansas while Jefferson City’s Airdome was still under construction. His amusement company was known as the Olendorf-Bell-Ballard Amusement Company led by Olendorf himself as president, alongside 75-year-old W.W. Bell (of Pittsburg, Kansas) and 75-year-old L.F. Ballard, alongside their 1 to 5-year-old children. His business owns a circuit of airdomes in Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas.
Jefferson City’s Airdome Theatre opened its doors on May 18, 1908. The Airdome had some success for its first few years, but when it reached its fourth season, personal business immediately fell and the management closed the Airdome after the 1912 season. Manager William J. Edwards later died from an illness on the morning of February 3, 1913 at his home in Jefferson City.
The Gem Electric Theatre opened its doors on August 28, 1909, and the name was later shorten to just Gem Theatre a few years later. Later taken over by the Dubinsky Brothers, the Gem Theatre did once close during the final quarter of 1935 due to renovation that started that November, and reopened in August 1937 as a dime house. Unfortunately it appears that it didn’t do as much business, and closed around a year later.
After being abandoned throughout the war and after, the Gem Theatre building received reconstruction during 1947 (with several halts due to vehicle accidents).
The old Gem Theatre received a makeover and relaunched as the Roxy Theatre on October 2, 1947 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Sinbad The Sailor” with no extra short subjects. This came as a partial replacement of the short-lived Highway Theatre on Dunklin due to Highway 50 construction the following year. It had the same film policy as the Highway Theatre. At first, it was an all-year indoor theater with a primary mix of first-run and second-run features, but unfortunately it was closed in August 1948 for unknown reasons. After reopening by Durwood Theatres led by Arnold Gould on Christmas Day 1949, it became a seasonal movie house running from December to March as well as an updated film policy (running a mix of As and Bs). Unfortunately again for unknown reasons, the Roxy closed again in March 1950. It never reopened for the Winter 1950-1951 season.
More Corrections: The Highway Theatre was the first seasonal indoor movie theater in Jefferson City, and the State Theatre is not a dominate mainstream theater. Only the Capitol Theatre is the dominant mainstream movie house in Jefferson City.
The actual opening date is May 28, 1949.
Where’s the projection/concession booth(s)?
Cecil Hoffman was the first manager of the Skylark.
The actual opening date is September 20, 1949, featuring an original 50x60ft screen.
Once operated by Commonwealth Theatres.
Corrections: The Highway Theatre is an indoor movie house, not a drive-in theater. It was very confusing because of its name. It was located on 700 W Dunklin St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.
Also, the Highway Theatre ran primarily first-run features, but it can sometimes do either a second-run, a rerelease, or a weekend double-feature of a second-run/B thing in once in a while. In portions of its history, some of the first-run features the Highway Theatre played would’ve been shown at either the Capitol Theatre or the State Theatre, such as “Ceasar and Cleopatra” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” (the Capitol would’ve picked up both titles nonetheless, but its surprising to see both titles running in a short-lived theater).
The Highway Theatre did not appear as much in advertisements, some of which including opening date were unclear due to lost info. Showtimes for the Highway Theatre as I surfaced only appeared during the middle of both years, meaning that the Highway Theatre could be a seasonal movie house (possibly from May to September).
The Highway Theatre closed after 1947 following reconstruction on Highway 50 in May 1948 which the Kieselbach Corporation company had granted two permits for improvements on Highway 50. The theater was demolished the following month to make way for a used car lot for Sexton Motors.
Opened in 1997.
First operated by K-Theatres Corporation, later by Commonwealth Theatres, and finally United Artists.
First operated by K-Theatres Corporation, later by Commonwealth Theatres, and finally United Artists. The actual closing date is September 7, 1999.
August 1958.
Closed on September 4, 1980 with Walt Disney’s “Herbie Goes Bananas” due to lack of quality films.
It was renamed the Elmira Theatre on September 26, 1952 after major remodeling. The Elmira Theatre closed as a movie house in late 1974.
The actual closing date is September 18, 2002. The theater closed due to parking problems associated with the nearby Coach USA Center.