Shady Oak Cine
7630 Forsyth Boulevard,
Clayton,
MO
63105
7630 Forsyth Boulevard,
Clayton,
MO
63105
7 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Arthur Enterprises Inc., Wehrenberg Theatres
Architects: Frederick Dunn, John A. Lorenz, Campbell Alden Scott
Firms: Lorenz & Scott
Styles: Art Deco, Colonial Revival
Previous Names: Shady Oak Theatre, Shady Oak Cinema
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News About This Theater
- Nov 7, 2008 — Shady Oak Theater being demolished
By looking at this theatre, you wonder how it got the name of Shady Oak. It is surrounded by nothing but concrete and steel buildings, but it started as an airdome shaded by oak trees, thus giving the airdome its name.
A 650-seat indoor theatre named Shady Oak Theatre opened next to the now long-gone airdome on May 3, 1933 with Eddie Cantor in “The Kid From Spain”. On October 3, 1937 it went over to screening arthouse films and was renamed Shady Oak Cinema.
The Shady Oak Theatre, located in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton at the intersection of Forsyth Boulevard and Hanley Road, has the warmth of an intimate cozy theatre. It has always shown movies up it’s closing.
It was part of the Arthur Enterprises Inc. chain until they went out of business, and then operated until its closing in 2000 by the Wehrenberg Theatre chain.
The theatre was a rectangular shape with some Art Deco style touches, mainly the wall lights. The lobby was sectioned into two parts, the main entrance plus the concession stand. The lobby originally had concrete walls but was paneled in a 1973 remodel. The ceiling holds mirrors and cube modern lights. The lobby’s second section is down a flight of stairs. The concession stand attracts attention as the main focal point.
The Colonial-style brick facade has three doors with arches and a small potico which stretches over the ticket booth. Although the front gives the appearance the theater is only one story it is not. The lobby has one story and further back stands the auditorium with it’s balcony. The balcony held a major advantage for the Shady Oak of the 1980’s. Many celebrities attended the theatre because people wouldn’t bother them and they could sit in the small balcony. Many St. Louis Cardinals players would attend the Shady Oak because of the privacy.
For many years the Arthur Chain operated the Shady Oak Cinema as an art theatre but when the Wehrenberg chain took over they changed to format to first-run and it was renamed Shady Oak Cine.
The Shady Oak Cine sat among high-rise office buildings and condos in downtown Clayton and was somewhat of a landmark. Parking was a problem since the Shady Oak Cine didn’t have it’s own parking lot. They had arrangements with some of the office buildings around the theatre for parking.
The building with its quaint and warm atmosphere was closed on August 26, 2000 with Richard Gere in “Autumn in New York”. It sat unused collecting dust for several years until it was demolished in November 2008.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 22 comments)
The Shady Oak Theatre was a Fanchon & Marco operation when it got a new manager named Howard Albertson in 1952. Three years later, Boxoffice Magazine ran a two-page spread about the Shady Oak and the unusual policies Albertson had established at the house. A photo of the theater was featured on the cover of that issue of Boxoffice as well.
The Howard Albertson article should be cut and pasted into the “Commentary” section as he had some good things to say about running a movie house.
Continuing the line of bittersweet experiences at this theatre, on my last visit to this theatre in Christmas 1984 my father and I saw “Beverly Hills Cop” on a Saturday night. It was the last movie I saw with my dad. He was killed in September 1985.
I seem to recall posting this info on this page before but I guess it got deleted (hopefully unintentionally).
Here are updated links for the Boxoffice Magazine items mentioned in my earlier comment:
Photo of the Shady Oak Theatre on the cover of Boxoffice, September 24, 1955.
The article abouttheater manager Howard Albertson begins on this page of the same issue.
They should probably have called the Shady Oak the Melancholy since it seems to hold both happy and sad memories for quite a few of us, it seems.
I remember going here with one of my life’s two unrequited loves for “Children of a Lesser God” in 1986. I was also there for a movie with one of my former girlfriends in the early 1990’s.
This was a pretty straight-forward cinema, but low on frills. No sophisticated projection or sound. So, what you got was pretty basic. The design of the place was what you most remembered.
Other films I remember here were “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and “Face/Off.”
Opening ad copy: “Opening Tonight, May 3rd, with Eddie Cantor in ‘The Kid From Spain.’ Owned and Operated by Edward Bischoff, James Wilson, Wallace Kieselhorst.”
We saw Forrest Gump here on opening night- It was the only theater in the St Louis region to have the film. It opened wider at a later date.
I worked for Wehrenberg for 35 years and during our ownership no ghost was ever seen…..
The Shady Oak Theater opened May 3, 1933 with “The Kid From Spain.” But four years later, the venue made a momentous decision to go from neighborhood second run house to an arthouse rebranding as the Shady Oak Cinema on October 3, 1937. It would shorten that banner to the Shady Oak Cine closing on August 26, 2000 with “Autumn in New York.” It closed with 475 seats and was demolished in November of 2008.
The Shady Oak Theater opened May 3, 1933 with “The Kid From Spain.” The Colonial Revival architectural sketch of Campbell Alden Scott, John A. Lorenz and Frederick Dunn is in photos. Just four years later, the venue made a momentous decision to go from neighborhood second run house to an arthouse rebranding as the Shady Oak Cinema on October 3, 1937. It would shorten that banner to the Shady Oak Cine closing on August 26, 2000 with “Autumn in New York.” It closed with 475 seats and was demolished in November of 2008.