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Grand Theatre Records

 Collection
Identifier: A3198

Scope and Contents

The records are comprised of one daily ticket sales logbook dated 1939 and ticket sections dated May 1962. There are no records between 1940 and 1961; the records are arranged chronologically. The logbook contains sheets with the heading, “Grand Box Office / Daily Statement” pasted into a bound scrapbook. There is a daily statement for each performance dating from October 20 to December 31, 1939. There were at two least two shows per day, a matinee, and a night performance. On weekends there were also midnight shows. The statements include the date, the show time (matinee, e.g.), the show name, the weather, the number of tickets sold at each price level, and the total amount made each day. Three signatures appear at the bottom of each statement: the manager (Sam Reider), the assistant manager (Harold Clamage), and the treasurer (E. P. J--?). The names of the eleven shows are Wine, Woman & Song; Pleasure Seekers; Cute Cuties; Beauty Parade; Joyful Swingsters; Glamour Girls; Round the Towners; Sam Raynor's Miami Girls; The Whirl of Swing; Jungle Lassies; and Hello "1940." The tickets are from May 24 to May 30, 1962. They are possibly from the last month of operation when the theater had to close before being demolished.

Dates

  • 1939-1962

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Historical Sketch

The architectural firm of Barnett, Haynes and Barnett redesigned the Grand Opera House at 512-514 Market Street. It reopened as the Grand Theatre with vaudeville performances on August 11, 1913. In the early 1930s, the theater also showed movies. In 1935, the Grand brought well-known burlesque acts, such as Ann Corio and Margie Hart, to St. Louis. The format was so successful that the Grand remained a burlesque venue until it was forced to close in 1962 to make way for Busch Stadium. The Civic Center Redevelopment Project demolished the Grand in 1963.

Extent

0.23 Cubic Feet ( (2 folders))

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The records are arranged chronologically.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The papers were donated by Richard Heise in 2021 (accession number 2021-065).

Sources Consulted During Processing

Simmons, David J. (2018). St. Louis' Temples of Thepsis: Age of Challenge. Newsletter of the Missouri Valley Chapter, Society of Architectural Historians , Vol.XXI, No.3 (Fall 2018) http://www.stlouisarchitecture.org/pdf/2018%20Fall%20A.pdf McGuire, John M. (May 19, 1991). "St. Louis was a Gem in Circuit." St. Louis Post-Dispatch Magazine, 30.

Processing Information

Processed with funding from The Stuart Foundation, Inc. by Kristina Perez, 2022.

Title
Grand Theatre Records
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Kristina Perez using ArchivesSpace
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510