Maffitt Theatre
2812 Vandeventer Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63107
2812 Vandeventer Avenue,
St. Louis,
MO
63107
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Arthur Enterprises Inc., St. Louis Amusement Co., William Goldman Theaters Inc.
Architects: Leo F. Abrams
Styles: Streamline Moderne
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Replacing an earlier Maffitt Theatre and Airdome which had opened in 1910. They were demolished to build the new Maffitt Theatre which opened on October 27, 1917 with Douglas Fairbanks in “In Again, Out Again” & Gladys Brockwell in “The Soul of Satan”. The Maffitt Theatre was built by Fanchon & Marco and operated by Goldman’s Consolidated Theater Co., later taken over by the Arthur Enterprises Inc. as were all the F & M Theatres. Located on the corner of Vandeventer Avenue and Maffitt Avenue, with the box office and entrance doors facing the corner of the street.
A small lobby with the concession stand located in the middle of the west wall, with a nice terrazzo floor in the lobby. There were three aisles that led into the theatre, two side aisles and one center. The Maffitt Theatre was a single floor theatre with no outstanding features inside the auditorium. In August 1941 it was given a Streamline Moderne style makeover to the plans of architect Leo F. Abrams. Two months later it was destroyed in a mysterious fire. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1943.
The theatre closed on June 12, 1953 with Gregory Peck in “The World in His Arms” & Ann Baxter in “The Outcasts of Poker Flat”. It was gutted and became a National Food Store. The building was a local grocer for a while but was demolished prior to 2007.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The theatre opened in January 1918 with 1280 seats, an operation of the Consolidated Theatre Company. The theatre soon was operated by Famous Players-Missouri, then City Wide Amusement, and St. Louis Amusement beginning in 1921. In 1941, the house was stripped to the walls and the new design, by Leo Abrams, opened in August with 956 seats. Union difficulties closed the theatre in three weeks, and two months later the theatre was destroyed in a fire of mysterious origin. The theatre reopened in 1943 and ceased operation in June 1953.
Should be listed as demolished. Even in 2007, streetview shows a park there.
The original Maffitt Theatre opened in 1910 with films and live vaudeville from the O.T. Crawford Circuit. In 1911, likely due to poor ventilation, the Maffitt Airdrome was built and opened on the lot adjoining the hardtop Maffitt.
In 1917, William Goldman acquired the lots 3853-3859 Maffitt Avenue and an opening at 2812-4 Vandeventer for entry to a new build, $75,000 venue. The Airdrome and former venue were razed and likely better ventilation was in store for the New Maffitt. At launch, the New Maffitt Theatre opened under Goldman’s Consolidated Theater Company. The New Maffitt Theatre appears to have opened on October 27, 1917 with “In Again – Out Again” supported by “Soul of Satan.” Sound was later added to keep the Maffitt viable.
Modernization occurred with Leo F. Abrams' 1941 streamline moderne architectural refresh sketch which is in photos. The Maffitt Theatre closed at the end of its 30-year leasing agreeing on June 12, 1953 with “World in His Arms” and “Outcasts of Poker Flat.” Kids under 12 got in free with a parent with the women getting free dinnerware. The building was converted for retail purposes thereafter.