Columbia Theater

Here’s an article about the transformation of the Columbia into a private residence. Plus the reason why it closed for good. http://www.laduenews.com/abode/features/columbia-theater-once-grand-movie-palace-turned-private-residence/article_04127fcd-b4fb-5334-93a0-6e57fa14679b.html

Opening year should be 1926, not 1916. The building permit for the structure was issued in August 1925 and theatre opened for business on February 1, 1926. The architect of the original structure was Preston Bradshaw.

The impression I got from the item was that it was an entirely new theater in 1916. This is what it said:

“The New Columbia Opens.

St. Louis, Mo.—The Columbia, a new theater in the Clifton Heights district of St. Louis, opened recently with an all-picture program, and with an admission price of five cents during the week and ten cents on Saturday and Sunday, when special features are shown.“

There is an item in the July 15, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World which says that the Columbia Theatre in the Clifton Heights district of St. Louis had opened recently. The theater operated on a pictures-only policy, with admission charges of five cents on weekdays and ten cents on Saturday and Sunday.

Clifton Heights is immediately adjacent to the neighborhood now called The Hill, and I think that this theater is most likely the same Columbia Theatre opened in 1916. The style of the building with its classical pediment and cornice is characteristic of the later 1910s.

The earlier Columbia Theatre at 6th and St. Charles Streets downtown was in operation at the same time as the Columbia Theatre in Clifton Heights. While the downtown Columbia was primarily a vaudeville house, it was equipped to show movies. an item in the July 8, 1916,issue of The Moving Picture World says that the downtown Columbia would be showing movies made by the Triangle studio, which had previously been exhibited at the American Theatre. The American, owned by the same company as the Columbia, was being closed for the summer.

Take a look at the bird’s eye view and see how unusually the auditorium has been transformed : http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qf1q7p7g99q1&lvl=19.64919076663369&dir=359.13181967333327&sty=b&where1=Southwest%20Ave%2C%20St%20Louis%2C%20MO%2063110&form=LMLTCC

George Jones: The Columbia Theatre Houdini appeared at was at 6th & St. Charles downtown. This major vaudeville house closed in mid-1925. The Columbia on Southwest opened in early 1926.

It has been rightly pointed out to me that there was indeed a 2m/11r Kilgen organ in the Columbia Theatre. The problem was it was not this Columbia but an earlier one that was located at 6th and St. Charles. It was installed in 1919. The Columbia on Southwest only dates back to around 1925.
JamesGrebe

The Columbia was located at the wedge of Southwest and Columbia Blvds. The address was 5257 Southwest. This was originall part of the Franchon & Marco Chain which later became ST. Louis Amusement Co./Arthur Theatres. Originally the Columbia had an ice cream parlor in its lobby along with the concession stand. Like most Arthur Theatres this was a very clean and well maintained theatre. Theatre seated 843 on a single floor.