King Bee Theatre
1710 N. Jefferson Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63107
1710 N. Jefferson Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63107
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Additional Info
Previous Names: King Bee Odeon
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The King Bee Odeon opened in 1910 as a tent theatre. It was still a tent theatre in 1912 when it was renamed King Bee Theatre. It was rebuilt in 1915 as a hard-top theatre. The King Bee had a small balcony and the rest on the main floor. The King Bee Theatre was taken over by George P. Skouras in October 1925. In 1929 it was equipped for sound, but closed in 1930. Another operator took over and it reopened in 1931. The King Bee Theatre was closed on July 20, 1952 with James Craig in “Drums in the Deep South” & Tim Holt in “Pistol Harvest”. Closure was due to the revitalization program of the neighborhood and high rise low income housing built where the theatre stood.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
Building permit issued in late-1914, with theatre opening in 1915.
Original management by Mike Nash. Benjamin Paulter took over in 1931; Marvin Banks in 1947.
Theatre did not operate for “exclusive” Black patronage. Also, was not a Sam Komm operation.
Theatre did cease operation in 1952.
Any photos?
It was my neighborhood double-feature theater. Went there often as a kid in the late 1930s/early 1940s.
Admissions: Adults, 10cents; kids under 10, a nickel. Everyone was poor then; the King Bee was located just NW of Kerry Patch. Aggressive kids would stand outside and chant, “Got 3 cents, got 3 cents, need a nickel” to panhandle pennies for admission.
They gave away dishes on Tuesday nights. The idea was, keep coming back, eventually get a full place setting.
Saw many a Western/cowboy movie there and many, many Saturday matinee serials. The serial hero “died” each week; come back next week, see how he escaped.
The theatre was still standing in July 1998. By July 1999 it had been demolished. The photo above represents the plot today.
The King Bee had an adjacent airdome which could seat 1297 patrons.
The King Bee Odeon opened in 1910 as a tent theater. In 1912, it is renamed the King Bee Theater remaining a tent show. After five successful seasons and likely under duress from the City of St. Louis which was cracking down on tent picture shows due to well-placed safety concerns, it was rebuilt late in 1914 and early 1915 as a hardtop venue continuing as the King Bee Theater by Mike Nash. United Pictures Theatres of America booked the venue beginning in 1918. An adjoining candy store / confectionery served as the de facto concession stand.
George P. Skouras took over the King Bee in October of 1925. Skouras added Tiffany-Stahl’s Tiffany Tone sound to the King Bee to remain viable in 1929. Skouras technically closed the venue in 1930. In 1931, it was taken over by Barbara Schmoll Pautler who operated it until 1947. It got new owners from 1947 to 1952. The King Bee was deposed on July 20, 1952 after showings of “Drums in the Deep South ” and “Pistol Harvest.”