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The Missouri Auctioneer
Call it the picture show, the talkies, the flicks or the movies, this great celluloid adventure has been the main source of Rodgers Theater entertainment for many Americans since the country's first story film “The Great Train Robbery” was produced in 1903.
Today, as a new century settles in, we look back with great appreciation at the unique contribution of this art form and the movie houses that drew millions of Americans into an era unprecedented in American culture.
Poplar Bluff was no exception to this phenomenon. It boasted at least three movie theaters before 1914, and it was in that year that a man named I. W. Rodgers came to this city and bought the Princess, the Lyceum and the Criterion theaters and started an era of entertainment. Later he bought the Jewel Theater and built the Rodgers Theater. He and his family continued to furnish the movie entertainment in Poplar Bluff for 52 years, until l966 when the Kerasotes Brothers Theaters of Springfield, Ill., bought the company.
Not to be forgotten, however, is the Strand Theater, which also operated here for many years under other management. This theater is remembered by most people as one that showed second rate and risque films.
The Rodgers Theater, at the corner of Pine and Broadway, still stands as a tribute to this bygone era, the only one of these theaters still standing. This historic building, though only 50 years old, has an outstanding appearance. Its architectural design is Art Moderne/ Deco. It was closed in May of 1998 and its deterioration is evident as it waits for restoration.
After many years of owning and operating theaters, Mr. Rodgers built this theater and said at the time it was opened, “when the Rodgers opens….my plans and ambitions will be fully realized.”
The theater opened June 1, l949, with a great deal of fanfare and the showing of the movie “Red Canyon” starring George Brent and Ann Blyth with Howard Duff, Jane Darwell and Edgar Buchanan. Eighteen hundred people attended the opening festivities that included a ribbon cutting, music by the Poplar Bluff Municipal Band and a dedication by the city mayor, E. W. Robinson. Mr. Robinson bought the first ticket to the show.
The theater was reported to be the finest between St. Louis and Memphis at the time it opened. It was fully air conditioned and comfortably warmed by forced air and radiant heat .
An attempt to describe its elegance, according to a reporter for the Daily American Republic in the May 31, 1949, issue of the newspaper, would be like an attempt to describe a “gentle breeze on a June night.”
The building occupies 11,648 square feet. When it was opened, it contained 1160 red plush “Bodyform“ seats, 20 of which were equipped with hearing aid attachments. A cry room for small children and their mothers in the balcony had a plate glass front for viewing the movie; it was soundproof and fully air conditioned.
T he marquee was brilliantly lighted and the tall glass tower, which still displays large red letters that spell the name of the theater, stood in front of ten wide brightly colored panels.
Movie goers entered the lobby through solid walnut doors. The lobby is circular and had a large popcorn machine and candy counter. Jujubes were one of the favorite candy snacks of the day. Leather benches lined one of the walls of the lobby.
Joining the theater on the north side was a drug store with a lunch counter. It was part of the Rodgers building, which also contains office space for several businesses.
Butler County became the owner of the theater building in Jan.,1999. The owners, then Kerasotes Theatres, gave the building to the county when they moved to a new multiplex theater on Highway 67 South. The plan is to restore the theater and make it available for live performances and other community events. The office space will be
used by the county government. Today the city and county have many residents of the Baby Boomer's generation, and a little before and after, who went to Saturday cowboy shows, and stayed to see it again, and who remember “first date” movies in the 1950s and early ‘60s. They also remember the late F.P. “Pete” Gloriod., theatre manager from 1950 to 1964, who ran the theater in a firm and quiet way. Mr. Gloriod ran a tight ship. He demanded discipline and respect from his young patrons, adults too, and he got it. He needed only to walk the length of the theater when things got a bit noisy and everyone straightened up…if by chance they didn't, he picked them up by the collar of their shirt and took them out of the theater firmly and reasonably gently. Pete was a tall athletic man but even more than his size, he was to be feared because of his connections—-he grew up in Poplar Bluff and he knew every kid's father. The Rodgers‘ had many fine employees who are remembered but Pete Gloriod is remembered from a time when there was little else in entertainment for young people here than the “picture show ” and they flocked to it. Seldom was there a movie that required parental guidance and never on Saturday. Mr. Rodgers died in 1958, at the age of 83, after a long career in the motion picture world. He became interested as a very young man when movies were short skits of dancers, children playing or street scenes—-short subjects similar to early home movies. Mr. Rodgers opened a “store show” in New Orleans in 1896 and showed these films. These store shows were later called Nickelodeons because they charged five cents to see the film. This necessitated buying several films to keep the audience coming day after day. Later Mr. Rodgers changed his operation to a traveling show; this meant with one film he could travel from town to town showing it before having to buy another. This kind of entertainment was very popular. All the while he believed that the day would come when the motion pictures would show a complete story. That time came in 1903. Rodgers married in the meantime and sought other employment for a while. However, he went back to the movie business and located in Jonesboro, Ark., where he bought a theater. Someone there suggested he should have a look at Poplar Bluff. He did and he and his wife Grace decided they would like to live here. At the time the Criterion Theater was owned by William N. Barron, a prominent attorney and businessman in Poplar Bluff who built the theater in 1911.The Rodgers kept in touch with the owner but moved to California. Finally in 1914, after the theater was severely damaged by fire, Mr. Barron agreed to lease it to the Rodgers.
Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers and their seven-year-old son, Carson, moved to Poplar Bluff. Mr. Rodgers managed the repair of the Criterion and opened it for vaudeville shows and movies. Later he bought it. He operated both the Criterion and Jewel theaters. They also added to their operation a theater in Caruthersville, and four in Illinois, two in Cairo Ill., one in Anna and one in Carbondale. In 1921, the Rodgers moved their headquarters to Cairo and went there to make their home.
When the Rodgers Theatre was opened the Criterion was closed and later the theater chain opened a drive-in theater now the site of the Kerasotes multiplex theater on Highway 67 South.
Carson Rodgers was general manager of the company by 1949. He was marred to a Poplar Bluff girl, Helen Pease. They, too, made their home in Cairo. Helen Rodgers' father and grandfather were in the timber business in Butler County. Carson Rodgers died in 1964.
The Rodgers Theater thrived for many years under the old and new ownerships. Changes were made in recent years, including the closing of the ticket booth and the theater being divided into a two screen operation.
Finally, the last picture show was shown and the double set of double doors swung shut on May 14, 1998. “Major League III” starring Scott Bakula and Corbin Bernsen was shown on one screen and on the other “Wild Things” starring Matt Dillon and Neve Campbell.
Like the movie “The Last Picture Show” the old theater closed with a desolate look.The big red letters spelling its name are faded, the ticket booth is boarded up and because of a widened street the marquee shows damage on the Pine Boulevard side from trucks that came too close.
The memories linger on, perhaps the new century will welcome a new life and a new mission for this building of so many memories. The need is here for a medium sized theater for live performances and community events, a place for people of all ages to come together to celebrate the visions, the creations and the talents of artists and dreamers and more.
And, if you look carefully, you'll see the grand old building now stands silently waiting to come alive again.. See you in Poplar Bluff for the MPAA Summer Conference.
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I would first like to start by THANKING Jason Winter for a wonderful convention he held in St. Louis . Jason has been a very humble, gracious president who deeply cares for our association and it showed in St. Louis . If you were not able to attend this convention, you missed out on several seminars that will help your business grow in real estate at auction, technology, clerking software, online auctions, and most importantly talking in the halls with your peers that can make a difference in how you conduct your business as a professional.
I would like to personally congratulate Bob Barks for his induction into the MPAA hall of fame. Bob is most deserving of this great achievement, as he has always given back to the MPAA, auctioneers and anyone who needs a helping hand. This award could have not gone to a greater or more deserving person than Bob.
I would like to thank you, the membership for having enough confidence and faith in me to be your 2009 / 2010 president. I am always available to listen to your concerns or suggestions. I believe we need to keep an open communication between our members and our board. We have a tremendous board, whom I feel will be willing to help others and are committed to our association.
THANK YOU to LaDonna Schoen for coming aboard as our executive secretary. LaDonna is the right person at the right time to help steer our association in the right path. LaDonna is committed to helping our association, but does expect our members to step up and be just as committed. This is a passion for her, as her and her husband owned and operated an auction business for many years. She brings a lot of experience and great insight to the table. Lets all make her feel welcomed and help her with any area's she may need assistance.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Winter 2009/ 2010 conference will be held in Columbia , Missouri on February 18 through February 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn. Our 2009 / 2010 MPAA bid calling competition will be held at this convention. This will be the first time we have held our bid calling competition at our conference. What a great opportunity for the men and women who want to compete, not only to showcase their skills as professional auctioneers, but to be able to attend the educational seminars that will help further their business as professional auctioneers. There is no reason that you as a professional auctioneer would not attend this convention. We purposely chose winter for our conventions when the auction business is slow, so you can take advantage of the many opportunities to learn and grow your business.
The MPAA has started a new mentoring program for newcomers. This program is not just meant for new auctioneers in the business, but auctioneers who have been conducting auctions for many years, but have not been active in the MPAA. Our Hall of Fame members have stepped up to the plate and will be available to help answer your questions about the MPAA or help with your questions on how to successfully handle an upcoming auction you may have. I hope you as a new member will take advantage of this opportunity, which will provide you invaluable information that can help you as a professional auctioneer.
I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming National convention in July in Overland Park, Kansas , and also at our upcoming summer retreat in Puxico , Missouri in August.
Respectfully,
Larry Atterberry, Jr., CAI, CAGA
MPAA President
(573) 474-9295
Email: larryjr@atterberryauction.com
About
the MPAA
The
Missouri Professional Auctioneers Association (MPAA) represents the interests of
over 200 Auctioneers throughout the state. The mission of the MPAA is to promote
the auction method of marketing and to enhance the professionalism of its
members through education. The live auction industry's revenue grew 5.3%
translating into $270.7 billion in goods and services sold in the United States
in 2007. To learn more about the MPAA and the auction industry visit: www.moauctioneers.org
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