Melinda Theatre
105 W. Elm Street,
Piedmont,
MO
63957
105 W. Elm Street,
Piedmont,
MO
63957
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This entry will encompass all three Piedmont Missouri Theatres. Jules A. Freeman announced the the Princess Theatre in July of 1915 in a converted retail building at 106 South Main Street. He was unable to open until securing Mutual films from a St. Louis distributor and, according to the local reports, figuring out “the mysteries of his new projecting machine.” The first date was September 20, 1915 and by the end of the month, the correct lens was secured making the film presentations that much better.
Freeman’s was the first of three locations for movie houses in downtown Piedmont, Missouri. New operator W.H. Dunn installed sound in the Princess Theatre in July of 1930. A week later, however, the Princess became the Piedmont Theatre on July 28, 1930 with “The Love Racket” at the Piedmont’s relaunch. The Piedmont was basically the venue’s “sound era” name.
Alva Brinton (A.B.) “Jeff” and Maude “Maudie” Jefferis bought the movie house and were chagrined to find that it had only one projector and was not up to modern safety standards. They decided to move across the street to 107 South Main Street to create the New Piedmont Theatre on April 6, 1933 opening with “The Big Broadcast.“ That ended the Princess / Piedmont Theater run.
The 210-seat New Piedmont ended as the Piedmont Theatre on August 22, 1940 with “Pride of the Navy.” Earlier in 1940, the Jefferis had purchased the Blaine Building at 105 West Elm and would open their Jefferis Theatre there. It launched on August 28, 1940 with the Bob Burns in “Comin' ‘round the Mountain.” The Jefferis would add the Pine-Hill Drive-In Theatre to the mix opening it in 1953.
The Jefferis had one more refresh in store for their hardtop theatre equipping it with widescreen projection and giving the interior a completely new look and signage change to the exterior. They celebrated it with a grand reopening on October 27, 1954 playing “The Boy from Oklahoma.” The couple would retire at the end of 1957. Mr. and Mrs. Lacy Ragan, who operated Greenville’s Lux Theatre, took on both the Jefferis Theatre and the Pine-Hill Drive-In on January 1, 1958. The grand opening film for the renamed Melinda Theatre on January 1, 1958 was Bill Haley & The Comets “Don’t Knock the Rock.”
Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Bazzell followed the Ragans who, in turn, were followed by final operators Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Ross. The Rosses closed the Melinda Theatre on March 10, 1985 with “The Flamingo Kid.“ There would be no rebirth with the Melinda Theatre burning down just after its lease expired nine months later. The fire on December 29, 1985 was ruled as arson.
–Note that this entry should technically be the Melinda Theatre at 105 West Elm Street. The local paper claims 300 seats.
The Princess Theatre opened its doors in September 1915 and was located inside the Blaine building. The theater was renamed three times in its history. First it was renamed the Piedmont Theatre in Spring 1932, then it was renamed the Jefferis Theatre on August 28, 1940, and finally it was renamed the Melinda Theatre on January 1, 1958.
The theater closed in 1961 and the former theater became an office.
Boxoffice, Oct. 19, 1940: “Piedmont - A. B. Jefferis is now operating his new 400-seater.”
I believe this theatre was actually the Jefferis theatre. The theatre was named after its owner A. B. Jefferis.