Melba Theatre
300 S. Main Street,
De Soto,
MO
63020
300 S. Main Street,
De Soto,
MO
63020
2 people
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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.”
Actually the sources say that the theater was “founded” in 1946, which might mean only that construction began that year.
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.
I have uploaded a 1947 photo of the Melba as the Collins. When did the name change?
No website. Movie showtimes are listed on their Facebook page or by phone.
March 2016 photo added, photo credit Dawn Wells. The actress who played “Mary Ann” on “Gilligan’s Island”.
The Melba Theatre has made the switch to digital projection.
Why would you put brown brick and aluminum siding on the lower half of a yellow brick art deco building?