New Grand Central Theatre

New Grand Central Theater, Grand Boulevard and Lucas Avenue in 1925

The New Grand Central Theatre (also spelled with Theater) was a movie theatre at 705 North Grand Avenue in St. Louis, Missouri. It was designed by St. Louis architects Helfensteller, Hirsch & Watson and was built in 1913.

It was built as Grand Central Theatre by the Skouras Brothers as a 1,750 theater for showing of motion pictures, unusual for the time. It cost $150,000. ^[1] The theater was the host location for the first St. Louis "talkie", Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer . The theater was also the first St. Louis theater to show an all-color talking and singing musical, On with the Show , in June 1929. It was renovated and became the New Grand Central Theatre in 1921. The 2,500 seat renovated theatre had room for a 21 piece orchestra and a Wonder Kilgen organ. ^[2]

It was closed in 1931 and reopened in 1935 under new management. ^[3] The building was demolished in 1949 and replaced by a parking lot. ^{[2] [1]}

See also

• Marie Moentmann (1900-1974), industrial accident survivor whose benefit was held here, 1915

References

1. Hunter, Julius (January 7, 1983). "The Good Old Movies". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
2. "New Grand Central Theatre, at Cinema Treasures".
3. "Grand Central Theater Reopens Tomorrow". April 19, 1935.

38°38′24″N90°13′50″W / 38.64000°N 90.23052°W / 38.64000; -90.23052