Missouri Theater (St. Joseph, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Missouri Theater
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Missouri Theater, 1986, with 1960s canopy
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 715 Edmond St., St. Joseph, Missouri |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Boller Brothers; W.J. Assenmacher Co. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Exotic Revival, Moorish revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001353 |
| Added to NRHP | October 11, 1979 |
The Missouri Theater is a historic building in St. Joseph, Missouri. It was finished in July 1927. This theater was first built to show movies. It has a special "atmospheric" style, which means it looks like you are outdoors under the stars. The building mixes Art Deco and Moorish architecture styles.
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The Theater's Design and Features
The Missouri Theater was designed by famous architects, the Boller Brothers. They were from Kansas City, Missouri. A sculptor named Waylande Gregory created some of the art. The Capital Building Company built the theater for Joseph Goldman, a local lawyer.
Inside the Theater
The theater has one large balcony. The main seating area looks like an open tented courtyard. It has designs inspired by ancient Assyrian architecture and Persian architecture.
Even though it was mostly for movies, the theater could also host live shows. It had dressing rooms for performers. It also had a "fly loft," which is a tall space above the stage. This space is used to hang and move scenery. There was also an orchestra pit for musicians. A special Wurlitzer theater organ was also part of the theater.
History and Renovations
The Missouri Theater showed movies until 1970. After that, it became a community theater for a few years. A local group bought it in 1976. In 1978, the city of St. Joseph bought the theater. They wanted to use it as a place for performing arts.
The theater and its office building were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This list includes important historic places in the United States. The theater is also part of the St. Joseph's Commerce and Banking Historic District.
Modern Updates
The theater was updated in 2002. An old canopy from the 1960s was taken off. The original marquee, which is the sign above the entrance, was also fixed up.
International Inspiration
The Missouri Theater helped inspire another theater in Mexico. This theater is called the Isauro Martinez theater. It is located in Torreón, a city in northern Mexico. Its construction started in 1928, and it is still open today.
Images for kids
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Missouri Theater, Saint Joseph, MO
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Missouri Theater, Saint Joseph, MO
See also
In Spanish: Missouri Theater para niños
