La Jade Cinema
125 East Main Street,
Festus,
MO
63028
125 East Main Street,
Festus,
MO
63028
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Additional Info
Architects: R.A.M. Anderson, Bruce F. Barnes
Firms: Barnes & Anderson
Functions: Church
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Miller Theatre
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Opened on December 30, 1936 with William Powell in “After the Thin Man”. It was operated by the Miller family and known at that time as the Miller Theatre. It was located in the middle of the block in the busy Festus downtown, the theatre was always a big draw. It was far enough out of St. Louis that it could get the first run movies at the same time as the movie palaces in St. Louis or a week later. The Miller family took pride in their theatre and it was kept in tip top shape. It always maintained its small time atmosphere.
When Mr Miller passed away in 1974 the theatre was sold and got a complete face life both inside and outside. With a new facade and new marquee. It continued to be successful until Mid America Theatre built a twin cinema just blocks away in Crystal City.
The theatre closed briefly in 1999 and was reopened in 2000 and closed again in 2002. It is now home to a church.
Contributed by
Charles Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
A church now occupies the La Jade.
The LaJade theatre is currently being restored after a storm tore off part of it’s roof. The church that was using it has closed. The inside has gone through a renovation. The outside is now being restore to it’s former state. The new owners are Townsend Heating & Cooling of Festus. They are setting up the theatre to be use for a Christian television broadcast. The , Just for Youth, televises in St. Louis, New Mexico, Alabama and Canada. The stage is being set up for a live audience during the broadcasts. The theatre will retaine it’s style and it’s community involvement.
Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yj2jza2
Architect (in 1935) was Bruce F. Barnes.
During early morning construction on August 27, 1936, two St. Louis men started to picket in front of the then-constructed Miller Theatre carrying signs to the effect that the employers were unfair to union labor. They were warned to leave the area but would not heed the warning. However, Marshal Kausler forcibly ejected them from the premises with no damage done other than to the face of one of the pickets by a well-placed thrust from Kausler himself.
The Miller Theatre, named after manager Harry E. Miller, opened its doors on December 30, 1936 with James Stewart in “After The Thin Man” (unknown if any extras added), and was the replacement of the Idle Hour Theatre nearby which closed as a movie theater the previous day. Some of the Miller Theatre’s original installations include a buff and blue interior color scheme with panel lights as well as a low, flat, ceiling and no chance for escaping sound or echoes the talking screen will be without imperfection.
May 28, 1952 marks the day when the staff at Miller Theatre stepped into court on a petition for a temporary injunction against the Projectionist Union, prohibiting the union from picketing their chain while being held before Circuit Judge Gordon Dorris of the Circuit Court of Carter County in Salem, Missouri. Despite the theater still running at the time, this went on for a short time due to many reports of picketing around the theater.