Cuba Cinema
108 S. Lawrence Street,
Cuba,
MO
65453
108 S. Lawrence Street,
Cuba,
MO
65453
1 person
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Additional Info
Previous Names: Just-A-Mere Theatre, Cuba Theatre, Nicalee Theatre(Deluxe), Nicalee Theatre, Cuba Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Small block style building with a small lobby. Seating capacity was 322. Opened as the Just-A-Mere Theatre on January 23, 1921. It was closed May 20, 1925. It reopened in May 1926 as the Nicalee Theatre(Deluxe). In April 1930 it was briefly renamed Cuba Theatre, becoming the Nicalee Theatre in September 1930 and closed in 1932. It reopened as the Cuba Theatre on September 13, 1934. It was renovated in the mid-1970’s and renamed Cuba Cinema. It closed in the late-1980’s. Draperies lined the walls of the auditorium but the sound still bounced on the walls.
Contributed by
Chuck Van Bibber
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
This theatre should have an AKA Cuba Theatre. It actually opened in 1935. It was renovated in the mid-1970’s and renamed the Cuba Cinema.
Henry C. Tuttle launched the Cuba, Missouri’s first movie theater under the name of “Just-A-Mere Theatre” on January 23, 1921. Tuttle created a wrap-a-around ad with an Extra edition headline promoting the theatre and used newsboys to disseminate the information with cries of, “Extra, extra read all about it.” R.H. Finley took on the venue but closed it on May 30, 1925 with the equipment removed.
One year later, the Nicalee Theatre (Deluxe) opened in May of 1926 named in a contest by local resident Susan Everson. The silent theatre dropped “Deluxe” from its ads and converted to sound in April of 1930 rebranding briefly as the Cuba Theatre. In September of 1930, the name reverted to the Nicalee Theatre likely due to comments of loyal patrons. The Nicalee closed during the Depression in 1932. According to the local paper, it reopened under new operators on September 13, 1934 as the long-running Cuba Theatre.
Address was 108 S. Lawrence. Confirmed via Cinematour link with photos below. Building was still standing as of May 2016. They match the 1930s photo I just added, credit Schuster Studio Hermann Missouri, courtesy Route 66 Postcards Facebook page.
https://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/7112.html
108 S. Lawrence address is confirmed. It was located behind what is today East Office Bar & Grill, which is in the former drug store and cafe building in the 1930s photo. Story from below website too.
“One can see the Cuba Theatre where Wilbur Vaughn and others from Cuba use to work. Probably a lot of budding romances took place while viewers watched Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and other silver screen greats. In 1948, Bette Davis herself would visit Cuba. When Wilbur took her photo, her male companion chased Wilbur down the street. Wilbur managed to escape his clutches and printed the photo in a darkroom closet of the theater. The photo was in the Cuba News and Review the next week. And the incident would be depicted in the Cuba Free Press Mural.”
https://cubamomurals.com/2009/11/east-end-square-had-it-going-on-rt-66-and-cuba-mo-hotspot/
Showmen’s Trade Review, Sept. 22, 1945: “R. E. Carney Theatres, Rolla, Mo., has taken over the Cuba Theatre, Cuba, Mo., formerly operated by A. P. Meier.”
Boxoffice, Dec. 10, 1949: (theatre sales) “Cuba, Mo. - 255-seat Cuba sold to A. P. Meyer (sic) by R. E. Carney.”
In August 1949, Rowe E. Carney had bought out a competing drive-in project in Rolla, so he might have needed the cash or the time to concentrate on building his own Rolla Drive-In. In 1955, Adolph P. Meier built the 19 Drive-In in Cuba. During at least some summers after that, Meier would close the indoor Cuba while operating the 19.
Address still needs updating to 108 S. Lawrence. It is not on Florence. Florence is 5 blocks away. 108 S. Lawrence address is confirmed. It was located behind what is today East Office Bar & Grill, which is in the former liquor & drug store and cafe building in the 1930s Overview photo.
Two more stray bits.
Cuba Review, Oct. 5, 1944: “Adolph Meier, manager of the Cuba Theatre, is again improving his show house. Recently he had a marquee built on the front of his building and now he is having the lobby and the ticket seller’s booth painted.”
Variety, Sept. 19, 1951: “Mrs. Anna Frances Bousser, part owner of the Cuba Theatre, Cuba, Mo., died at her home there Sept. 7. Her husband and four daughters survive.” Mrs. Bousser was Adolph’s mother-in-law.