Maplewood History: The Maplewood Theater – While We’re On The Subject…

By
Doug Houser
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9
197
The location of this 1949 image is the 7100 block of Manchester looking west. The streetcar tracks are being paved over. The Maplewood theater is visible on the left.

From the comments I’ve been receiving, many folks have positive memories of the Maplewood Theater.  Here are some more photos of this object of our affection.

The location of this 1949 image is the 7100 block of Manchester looking west. The streetcar tracks are being paved over. The Maplewood theater is visible on the left.
The location of this 1949 image is the 7100 block of Manchester looking west. The streetcar tracks are being paved over. The Maplewood Theater is visible in the distance on the left.
In this photo the marquee is visible directly through the streetcar shelter.
In this photo the marquee is visible directly through the streetcar shelter.  The Loop Drug building no longer exists.  This photo and the one prior were probably found on the Facebook page called “Vintage St. Louis.”
This image I took with a telephoto lens in 2010 standing just west of the Tiffany Diner. the Maplewood Theater building is just past the large brick building in the center. I thought this image interesting because I had never noticed how much of a grade change existed in our business district.
This image I took with a telephoto lens in 2010 standing just west of the Tiffany Diner. The Maplewood Theater building is just past the large brick building in the center. I thought this image interesting because I had never noticed how much of a grade change existed in our business district.  The white Continental Life building on Grand  is on the horizon on the left.  Straight ahead the spire of St. Francis Xavier at Grand and Lindell is visible.
Classically ornamented terra cotta next to the former entrance to the theater.
Classically ornamented terra cotta next to the former entrance to the theater.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Terra cotta ornament from higher up. The Cinema Treasures website entry calls this building Art Deco. Nothing about it looks Art Deco to me.
Terra cotta ornament from higher up. The Cinema Treasures website entry calls this building Art Deco. Nothing about it looks Art Deco to me.
Marble staircase from Manchester to the basement.
Marble staircase from Manchester to the basement.
A two way door hinge on a little office in the basement. Local legend has it that the basement once held a speakeasy. I didn't see anything in 2007 when I took these photos that would confirm that.
A two way door hinge on a little office in the basement. Local legend has it that the basement once held a speakeasy. I didn’t see anything in 2007 when I took these photos that would confirm that.
If not necessarily mysterious the structure looks solid from the basement.
If not necessarily mysterious the structure looks solid from the basement.
A photogenic security door on the rear of the building.
A photogenic security door on the rear of the building.
If you are a perpetrator, consider yourself warned.
If you are a perpetrator, consider yourself warned.
The Maplewood theater was just out of sight on the right when this image was made. Courtesy of Citizen's National Bank.
The Maplewood Theater was just out of sight on the right when this image was made. Courtesy of Citizen’s National Bank.

 

9 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks for the history and pics. I feel honored to be shown the never seen information you dig up from your treasure trove. Keep it going!

  2. Thanks Doug for the great history and pics. I feel like I’m being let into the secret vaults of Maplewood. Keep it going!

  3. Doug, I’m sure you know this, but just in case, Scheidt Hardware started out as a movie theater as can be seen by the sloping joists in the basement view.

    • Gary, I have posted about Scheidt Hardware a couple of times but the last one not counting Roger’s retirement was over two years ago. It’s probably time to post this interesting story again. Thanks for mentioning it.

  4. Always a pleasure to read your posts, Doug.

    I can’t really make out the destination on that last streetcar picture. If it is headed west, where would those people be going?

    • Ian, I looked at my copy with Photoshop and tried out a variety of filters. Nothing seemed to help. Wanda’s guess may be accurate. I just can’t say for sure. Thank you for the kind words.

  5. Wow – very fun – especially the door to warn burglars! And marble steps! Doug how much of what you saw in 2007 is still there, do you think? Was part of the large space for the theatre seating anywhere to be seen then? I’m wondering where the seats went if not.

    • Wanda, the theater auditorium with the stage and screen had been in a building that was separate from the one there now. It was entered through the pass-through that still exists. For reasons unknown to me, the City of Maplewood owns that easement. I either was told or read that there had been a fire in the auditorium which was the reason for its demolition, I’m assuming. I’m afraid the seats are long gone. The Cinema Treasures website has some updated information and a photograph I had never seen before. You can see it here. http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6122

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