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Missouri Movie Theatres (page 2)

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Senate Theatre
Elsberry, MO		 Sunderman Theatre
Fredericktown, MO		 Rialto Theatre
Hannibal, MO
The Senate Theatre opened in 1911. It was rebuilt a few times after several fires. The theatre was operating in the 1950s but closed for decades. In 2003, it was restored as a movie theatre. For more, see this website. [map]

The Sunderman Theatre opened in 1939 as the Gem Theatre. It was later known as the Mercier Theatre. The building was remodeled in the late 1950s and became the Sunderman Theatre. The blue blade sign originally had neon letters which spelled out "Sunderman" vertically. The theatre closed in the early 1970s. In the late 1990s, the interior was turned into office space. For more, see this website. [map]

The Rialto Theatre opened in 1937 and closed in 1955. The building now houses the Rialto Banquet Hall, an event space. For more, see this website. [map]

Star Theatre
Hannibal, MO
The Star Theatre was built in 1906 as a vaudeville theatre. It was remodeled in 1948 and closed around 1959. It later became a bar but then remained vacant for decades and was about to be demolished in 2000. It was saved and renovated for movies with a restaurant/bar. It was later used as an event center. However, I believe it has been vacant since around 2022. For more, see this website. [map]

Orpheum Theatre
Hannibal, MO

2009:
2024:
Construction began on the Orpheum Theatre in 1918 and it opened in 1922. The exterior features bas-relief medallions depicting Orpheus in his chariot drawn by lions, Cupids representing music, and draped figures representing dance. In 1936, the theatre was remodeled and the marquee replaced. The marquee was replaced again in the 1950s when the theatre was renamed the Tom Sawyer. In 2011, the building was purchased by The Crossing, a church. It began offering services here in 2012. For more, see this website. [map]

Melba Theatre
Houston, MO		 Englewood Theatre
Independence, MO
The Melba Theatre opened as the New Lyric Theatre in 1929. The building was adapted from a post office. In 1931, it became the Melba Theatre and then closed in 1938. The building was renovated and reopened in 2018 as the Melba Performing Arts Center. For more, see this website. [map]

The Englewood Theatre opened in 1949 and was restored in the 1980s. It closed in 2007 and remains vacant. There are plans to renovate the building for the Englewood Arts Center. For more, see this website. [map]

Glen Theatre
Joplin, MO
The Glen Theatre opened in 1937 as the Show Theatre with live performances. In 1949, it became the Glen Theatre, showing movies. It closed in 1967 and became the Glen Art Theatre with adult films. It has been closed since around 1972. For more, see this website. [map]

Midland Theatre
Kansas City, MO
The Midland Theatre was designed by Thomas W. Lamb in 1927. It was originally named the Loew's Midland Theatre. The theatre served as a bowling alley in 1961. In 1966, the building returned to use as a movie theatre. In 1981, it became a performing arts venue. The theatre closed in 2006 for major renovations and reopened in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Mainstreet Theatre
Kansas City, MO
The Mainstreet Theatre was designed by Rapp and Rapp. It opened in 1921 as a vaudeville and movie house. The theatre closed in 1938, reopened in 1941, and closed again in 1949. It was renamed the Empire Theatre in 1960. The theatre closed again in 1985 and was threatened with demolition. Restoration began in 2006. The theatre reopened in 2009 as the AMC Mainstreet Theatre. It is now known as the B&B Theatres Mainstreet KC. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Gem Theatre
Kansas City, MO
The Gem Theatre opened in 1912 as the Star Theatre. In 1923, the façade was updated and the theatre was renamed. It continued to be a movie house until the mid-1970s when it switched to live performances. In the mid-1990s, the interior was gutted and rebuilt. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [night photo thanks Glenda Campbell] [map]

Uptown Theatre
Kansas City, MO
The Uptown Theatre was designed by John Eberson and opened in 1928. It closed in 1989 and fell into disrepair. In 1994, the theatre was restored and reopened. The atmospheric theatre simulates a Mediterranean courtyard. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Around 2019, the central readerboard was replaced with a graphic display. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

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