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St. Louis Movie Theatres

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Fox Theatre
St. Louis, MO
This Fox Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane and opened in 1929. It was designed as a twin to the Fox Theatre in Detroit. The two theatres had identical interiors. In the 1950s, the St. Louis Fox was still hosting gala movie openings. However, by the 1960s, the theatre was offering kung fu movies in order to remain open. It closed in 1978. Restoration efforts began in 1981. Today, the theatre is a live performance venue. The vertical sign is a replica, installed in 2008. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Tivoli Theatre
St. Louis, MO

The Tivoli Theatre opened in 1924 and closed in 1994. It reopened in 1995 after a $2 million renovation. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This photo is from 2010. The building has housed a church since 2021. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Sun Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Sun Theatre opened in 1913 as the Victoria Theatre playhouse. In 1918, it became the Fox-Liberty Theatre. In the 1930s, it was operating as the World Theatre. By the early 1950s, it was the Lyn Theatre and a projecting neon sign was installed over the marquee at that time. It housed a church in the late 1960s and later a nightclub. In 1997, it reopened as the Sun Theatre and the blade sign was adapted. After being vacant for decades after that, the interior fell into serious disrepair. It was restored from 2011-2014 and reopened as a performance space for the students of Grand Center Arts. The projecting sign and neon rays on the facade were removed. The marquee's letters were replaced with abstract LED strips which imitate the details above the windows. For more, see this website. [map]

Powell Symphony Hall
St. Louis, MO		 Beverly Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Powell Symphony Hall opened as the St. Louis Theatre in 1925. It was designed by Rapp & Rapp. It continued to show movies until 1966. In 1968, the theatre reopened as a concert hall. In 2023, the theatre closed for renovations. It is expected to reopen in 2025. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

The Beverly Theatre was built in 1937. It was renamed the Fine Arts Theatre in 1964. Since 2005, the theatre has housed the Wei Hong restaurant. For more, see this website. [map]

Hi-Pointe Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Hi-Pointe Theatre was built in 1922. It remains a single-screen. The original marquee sign was rectangular and lit with bulbs. The billboard sign on the roof originally advertised for the theatre. For more, see this website. [map]

Melvin Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Melvin Theatre opened in 1914. It closed around 1979. Since around 2017, the theatre has housed the Melvin Theater Community Center. For more, see this website. [map]

Mark Twain Theatre
St. Louis, MO
The Mark Twain Theatre was designed by Levitt, LeDuc, Farwell & Associates and opened in 1968. The theatre closed in 1985 and was converted into the Two Hearts Banquet Center. The building now houses the Laborers' International Union Local #110. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

There are identical-looking former theatres in Dayton and Kettering, OH which were built before this one. They must have been designed by the same architect(s).

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