The Moolah Theater is a wonderful place to see a movie and I highly recommend it. The first time I went there I was so blown away that I went straight home and wrote a letter to the manager.
First, the restoration of the building itself is amazing. As you enter, there is an inviting little seating area to the left â€" a nice place to relax before and after the movie. To the right is a small, upscale bar complete with plasma screen monitors. Above you in the foyer are large red lampshades suspended from the ceiling – it takes a moment to realize that they resemble huge upside-down Shriner’s hats!
These little treats are just a glimpse of what lies ahead when you enter the theatre. The room is huge, as is the screen. The main floor is filled with comfortable leather couches, loveseats and chairs for seating with a few extra stadium seating chairs in the back.
The balcony is wonderful too, with traditional theater seating which is basically dead center vertically to the screen. It’s hard to decide which are the best seats! When you sit down, LOOK UP! The lighting display on the dome of the ceiling is mesmerizing to watch.
Oh, and then there’s the actual movie. This has got to be everyone’s dream “home theaterâ€! The screen is enormous and the surround sound is set-up flawlessly. I just can’t imagine a better place to see a movie! And when you leave, ushers wait at the doors with mints and candies. Wow.
Two things to know before you go. 1) They have a wonderful air conditioner â€" be prepared to be cool! 2) Parking is in the pay lot behind the theater. DO NOT park on the street as these spots are for residents only. Not to worry, your parking ticket can be validated inside and will get you $2 off the concession stand.
For those of you interested in the Fox Marquee I have good news. The current marquee has been removed and will be replaced with a new one – in the style of the original! I will post details when I get them. I was able to watch the old marguee being removed last week and later passed it on the back of a semi being hauled away. As far as the rooftop sign goes, sorry but no plans are in the works to restore it to its former glory…Yet!
Thank you for your kind comments. I am very happy to be able to say that the Fox has already asked us (like they even NEEDED to ask) if we will premiere our next documentary about the Gateway Arch there in 2006 – Of course the answer is an enthusiastic “YES” and we are honored to do so!
One of the greatest thrills of my life, and I sincerely mean this, was having our documentary about the 1904 World’s Fair premiere at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis in the summer of 2004. We sold out the theater (now slightly less than 4500 seats) and I was amazed to see crowds stretched around the block in each direction before the show. Everything about that night was better than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. Being back stage at the Fox was a real treat (BTW, they offer tours to the general public and I’m told Stan Kann sometimes shows up during a tour to play the Mighty Wurlitzer). The walls are painted with artwork from the various musicals that have played there – signed by cast members – along with caricatures of some of the stars who have graced its stage. I felt like a real “big shot” being able to use the main dressing room to prepare before the movie began. Waiting behind the curtain with my co-director and the Mayor of St. Louis, about to step out and stand before a crowd at this amazing theatre, is a feeling I will cherish the rest of my life. Words can not adequately express how privileged I feel to have something I worked on shown at such a marvelous, historic theatre.
The Moolah Theater is a wonderful place to see a movie and I highly recommend it. The first time I went there I was so blown away that I went straight home and wrote a letter to the manager.
First, the restoration of the building itself is amazing. As you enter, there is an inviting little seating area to the left â€" a nice place to relax before and after the movie. To the right is a small, upscale bar complete with plasma screen monitors. Above you in the foyer are large red lampshades suspended from the ceiling – it takes a moment to realize that they resemble huge upside-down Shriner’s hats!
These little treats are just a glimpse of what lies ahead when you enter the theatre. The room is huge, as is the screen. The main floor is filled with comfortable leather couches, loveseats and chairs for seating with a few extra stadium seating chairs in the back.
The balcony is wonderful too, with traditional theater seating which is basically dead center vertically to the screen. It’s hard to decide which are the best seats! When you sit down, LOOK UP! The lighting display on the dome of the ceiling is mesmerizing to watch.
Oh, and then there’s the actual movie. This has got to be everyone’s dream “home theaterâ€! The screen is enormous and the surround sound is set-up flawlessly. I just can’t imagine a better place to see a movie! And when you leave, ushers wait at the doors with mints and candies. Wow.
Two things to know before you go. 1) They have a wonderful air conditioner â€" be prepared to be cool! 2) Parking is in the pay lot behind the theater. DO NOT park on the street as these spots are for residents only. Not to worry, your parking ticket can be validated inside and will get you $2 off the concession stand.
For those of you interested in the Fox Marquee I have good news. The current marquee has been removed and will be replaced with a new one – in the style of the original! I will post details when I get them. I was able to watch the old marguee being removed last week and later passed it on the back of a semi being hauled away. As far as the rooftop sign goes, sorry but no plans are in the works to restore it to its former glory…Yet!
Thank you for your kind comments. I am very happy to be able to say that the Fox has already asked us (like they even NEEDED to ask) if we will premiere our next documentary about the Gateway Arch there in 2006 – Of course the answer is an enthusiastic “YES” and we are honored to do so!
One of the greatest thrills of my life, and I sincerely mean this, was having our documentary about the 1904 World’s Fair premiere at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis in the summer of 2004. We sold out the theater (now slightly less than 4500 seats) and I was amazed to see crowds stretched around the block in each direction before the show. Everything about that night was better than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams. Being back stage at the Fox was a real treat (BTW, they offer tours to the general public and I’m told Stan Kann sometimes shows up during a tour to play the Mighty Wurlitzer). The walls are painted with artwork from the various musicals that have played there – signed by cast members – along with caricatures of some of the stars who have graced its stage. I felt like a real “big shot” being able to use the main dressing room to prepare before the movie began. Waiting behind the curtain with my co-director and the Mayor of St. Louis, about to step out and stand before a crowd at this amazing theatre, is a feeling I will cherish the rest of my life. Words can not adequately express how privileged I feel to have something I worked on shown at such a marvelous, historic theatre.
Bob Miano, Director
www.civilpictures.org
www.theworldsgreatestfair.com