Melba Theatre
300 S. Main Street,
De Soto,
MO
63020
300 S. Main Street,
De Soto,
MO
63020
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Wehrenberg Theatres
Architects: Oliver William Stiegemeyer
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Previous Names: Collins Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
636.586.1900
Nearby Theaters
Opened as the Collins Theatre on February 23, 1947 with Marshall Thompson in “Gallant Bess”. It was operated by W.A. Collins. It still retained the Collins Theatre name in 1957. Following improvements, it was taken over by Wehrenberg Theatres on June 10, 1963. On October 18, 1963 it was renamed Melba Theatre. It is located on S. Main Street in De Soto serving a community of about 6,000.
After the Melba Theatre in St. Louis was closed, the marquee was moved to the Melba Theatre in De Soto, it has since been replaced with a smaller marque with Melba spelled out on each side. The exterior of the theatre is impressive with its brick artwork. The theatre is privately owned and typically clean showing first run attractions. In spring of 2013, it raised money to convert to digital projection equipment.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Why would you put brown brick and aluminum siding on the lower half of a yellow brick art deco building?
The Melba Theatre has made the switch to digital projection.
March 2016 photo added, photo credit Dawn Wells. The actress who played “Mary Ann” on “Gilligan’s Island”.
No website. Movie showtimes are listed on their Facebook page or by phone.
I have uploaded a 1947 photo of the Melba as the Collins. When did the name change?
Multiple local sources say that the Collins Theatre opened in 1946. The recent reopening of the house as the Melba was noted in the December 2, 1963 issue of Boxoffice. The Wehrenberg circuit had bought the Collins in early June, and had completely renovated the house. Wehrenberg also bought the local Big Sky Drive-In as part of the same deal.
Actually the sources say that the theater was “founded” in 1946, which might mean only that construction began that year.
Opened February 23, 1947 with “Gallant Bess" with ad in photos. Architect Oliver W. Stiegemeier. The Wehrenberg Theatre Circuit took on the Collins and Sky-Vu on June 10, 1963 improving both. The Collins was closed throughout the summer and improvements included few seating with new wider rows, new air conditioning, it included moving the signage from its out of business Melba Theatre in St. Louis to De Soto and it saw them renaming the theater as the Melba effective October 18, 1963. The Sky-Vu Drive-In closed for the season allowing an exclusive Grand Opening with “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.”