Regal Theatre

The Regal Theatre opened on December 17, 1937 with Paul Robeson in “King Solomon’s Mines” & William Hall in “Escape by Night”. It was part of the Arthur Theatre chain. Very impressive theatre from the outside but rather plain on the inside. A two story building with a small balcony seating just under 200 with the balance on the main floor. Odd thing about the theatre was that the rest rooms were located in the lobby of the balcony. No rest rooms on the main level. The front of the theatre was constructed with a pale blue marble up the front of the building and about twenty feet down each side.

It was located in the middle of the block but had a walk-way down each side of the building. It was located a little east of N. Grand Boulevard and within walking distance of the movie palaces on North Grand Boulevard. When the neighborhood changed Arthur Theatre’s sold the building to a black couple since the neighborhood was changing and the couple operated the theatre until it closed in 1986.

It was later demolished in a redevelopment of the area for Federal Housing.

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

kencmcintyre on May 1, 2006 at 3:36 pm

Here is a link with some photos:
http://www.eco-absence.org/stl/regal/

Chris Utley on May 30, 2006 at 3:43 pm

I just found out that my mom and her siblings used to attend this theatre regularly when they were younger. To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never been here. And I certainly don’t remember this theatre being open in the mid-1980s (when I last lived in St. Louis)

JAlex on August 22, 2006 at 8:45 am

Theatre opened in December 1937.

Architect was Bruce F. Barnes.

Theatre one of the Black-patronage theatres in the city.

Fanchon & Marco not connected to the operation.

Structure stands today…unused, however.

JAlex on August 23, 2006 at 3:40 pm

To correct my entry of Aug. 22—

Checked out the theatre today (Aug. 23)—

official status is now DEMOLISHED.

kencmcintyre on May 2, 2009 at 6:22 pm

This site has some interior photos when the theater was being demolished, or close to that time:
http://tinyurl.com/cwbkeu

DavidZornig on November 10, 2015 at 10:39 pm

Here is the 2006 article that utilized the photos in kencmcintyre’s 05/01/06 post.

http://preservationresearch.com/2006/02/regal-theater-demolished/

dallasmovietheaters on October 24, 2024 at 10:30 pm

Opened December 17, 1937 with Paul Robeson in “King Solomon’s Mines” and “Escape By Night.”