Missouri Theater (St. Joseph, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Missouri Theater
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Missouri Theater, 1986, with 1960s canopy
|
|
 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 717 Edmond St., St. Joseph, Missouri |
|---|---|
| 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 special building in St. Joseph, Missouri. It's a place where people watch movies and live shows. It was finished in July 1927. This theater was built to look like an outdoor courtyard under a tent, which is called an atmospheric style. It also has cool designs from the Art Deco and Moorish styles.
Contents
A Unique Design
Famous architects named Boller Brothers from Kansas City, Missouri designed the Missouri Theater. A talented artist named Waylande Gregory created the sculptures. The Capital Building Company built the theater for Joseph Goldman, a local lawyer.
Inside the Theater
The theater has one balcony where people can sit. The main seating area looks like an open courtyard with a tent over it. It has beautiful details inspired by ancient Assyrian and Persian architecture.
Even though it was mainly for movies, the theater was also ready for live shows. It had special dressing rooms for performers. There was a fly loft above the stage, which is a tall space to hang scenery. It also had an orchestra pit for musicians. A special Wurlitzer theater organ was also part of the theater.
History of the Missouri Theater
The Missouri Theater showed movies until 1970. After that, it became a community theater for a few years. In 1976, a group from the community bought it.
Becoming a Performing Arts Center
In 1978, the city of St. Joseph bought the theater. They wanted to use it as a center for performing arts. This means it would host concerts, plays, and other live shows.
In 1979, the theater and its office building were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical buildings in the United States. The theater is also part of the St. Joseph's Commerce and Banking Historic District.
Recent Renovations
The theater was updated in 2002. An old canopy from the 1960s was taken down. The original marquee, which is the sign above the entrance, was fixed up to look new again.
Inspiration for Other Theaters
The Missouri Theater even inspired another theater far away! The Isauro Martinez theater in Torreón, Mexico, was built after seeing the Missouri Theater's design. The Mexican theater started being built in 1928 and is still open today.
Images for kids
-
Missouri Theater, Saint Joseph, MO
-
Missouri Theater, Saint Joseph, MO
See also
In Spanish: Missouri Theater para niños
