Historic Missouri Theater 100 Year Celebration
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1500 - 1730
A century of movies, vaudeville acts, theater, symphony and performing arts will be celebrated at the Historic Missouri Theater with the showing of the silent film 'It', starring Clara Bow on Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM with doors opening at 2:30 PM.
The Missouri Theater was built for Saint Joseph attorney and theatrical promoter Joseph Goldman and designed by brothers Carl and Robert Boller [the Boller brothers grew up in Saint Joseph]. It was constructed by Capital Building Construction of Lincoln, Nebraska. The ornate interior sculpture design was led by Waylande Gregory from Baxter Springs, Kansas. Gregory was only 20 years old during construction.
'Rough House Rosie' starring Clara Bow was the featured motion picture when the theater first opened its doors on June 25, 1927 at 6:30 PM. Admission to see the movie was 25¢. There are no copies of the original film due to the quality of film used, lack of storage facilities, or it was destroyed by the studio. Only a short trailer is available today.
Bow was considered Hollywood's first sex symbol during the Roaring Twenties. She appeared in 57 to 58 films between 1922 and 1933. Known as the 'It Girl', Clara Bow starred in 46 silent films and 11 'talkies' (sound films). Her most famous roles include Mantrap (1926), It (1927), and Academy Award winning Wings (1927).
The Missouri Theater celebration will begin with a dance and musical routine titled 'The Ragtime Revelers' choregraphed by Liza Heeler and featuring dancers from The Dance Arts Center. The dance pays homage to the vaudeville acts and variety shows of the 1920s.
A Charlie Chaplin short, 'The Adventurer' will precede 'IT'. Organ accompanist, Marvin Faulwell and percussionist, Bob Keckeisen of Topeka, Kansas will provide the 'live' soundtrack for the afternoon. Both are regular musicians at the Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka. Mr. Faulwell composed the music that they will be playing for 'IT'.
After a short intermission, the documentary 'Clara Bow: Discovering the IT Girl' [1999], a collaboration between Hugh Hefner and Turner Classic Movies. It is narrated by Courtney Love. The documentary traces Bow's life from Brooklyn tenement to silent screen stardom in Hollywood.
Co-sponsors of this silent film afternoon are the Saint Joseph Performing Arts Association, and City of Saint Joseph.
This program is presented in cooperation with the Centennial Celebration Series (CCS) in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of the Missouri Theater and Saint Joseph City Hall in 2027. It was organized by the CCS Committee of The Friends of the Missouri Theater.
Tickets for the celebration are $12.25 and can be purchased in advance at JoMoTickets.com or at the door on May 17. For more information, go online to Preservation-Guild.org or call the Missouri Theater at (816) 271-4628.
URL:
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3628698-0?pid=2874
Category: Attractions
Price:
General Admission [tax and fee included]: USD 12.25
Artists / Speakers: 816 Live – Performing Arts Association, Robidoux Resident Theater , Saint Joseph Symphony, The Dance Arts Center, Creative Arts Productions
The Missouri Theater was built for Saint Joseph attorney and theatrical promoter Joseph Goldman and designed by brothers Carl and Robert Boller [the Boller brothers grew up in Saint Joseph]. It was constructed by Capital Building Construction of Lincoln, Nebraska. The ornate interior sculpture design was led by Waylande Gregory from Baxter Springs, Kansas. Gregory was only 20 years old during construction.
'Rough House Rosie' starring Clara Bow was the featured motion picture when the theater first opened its doors on June 25, 1927 at 6:30 PM. Admission to see the movie was 25¢. There are no copies of the original film due to the quality of film used, lack of storage facilities, or it was destroyed by the studio. Only a short trailer is available today.
Bow was considered Hollywood's first sex symbol during the Roaring Twenties. She appeared in 57 to 58 films between 1922 and 1933. Known as the 'It Girl', Clara Bow starred in 46 silent films and 11 'talkies' (sound films). Her most famous roles include Mantrap (1926), It (1927), and Academy Award winning Wings (1927).
The Missouri Theater celebration will begin with a dance and musical routine titled 'The Ragtime Revelers' choregraphed by Liza Heeler and featuring dancers from The Dance Arts Center. The dance pays homage to the vaudeville acts and variety shows of the 1920s.
A Charlie Chaplin short, 'The Adventurer' will precede 'IT'. Organ accompanist, Marvin Faulwell and percussionist, Bob Keckeisen of Topeka, Kansas will provide the 'live' soundtrack for the afternoon. Both are regular musicians at the Kansas Silent Film Festival in Topeka. Mr. Faulwell composed the music that they will be playing for 'IT'.
After a short intermission, the documentary 'Clara Bow: Discovering the IT Girl' [1999], a collaboration between Hugh Hefner and Turner Classic Movies. It is narrated by Courtney Love. The documentary traces Bow's life from Brooklyn tenement to silent screen stardom in Hollywood.
Co-sponsors of this silent film afternoon are the Saint Joseph Performing Arts Association, and City of Saint Joseph.
This program is presented in cooperation with the Centennial Celebration Series (CCS) in anticipation of the 100th Anniversary of the Missouri Theater and Saint Joseph City Hall in 2027. It was organized by the CCS Committee of The Friends of the Missouri Theater.
Tickets for the celebration are $12.25 and can be purchased in advance at JoMoTickets.com or at the door on May 17. For more information, go online to Preservation-Guild.org or call the Missouri Theater at (816) 271-4628.
URL:
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3628698-0?pid=2874
Category: Attractions
Price:
General Admission [tax and fee included]: USD 12.25
Artists / Speakers: 816 Live – Performing Arts Association, Robidoux Resident Theater , Saint Joseph Symphony, The Dance Arts Center, Creative Arts Productions
Starting Price Per Person
$ 12.25 USD
Other Information
Where
Historic Missouri Theater
717 Edmond Street
Saint Joseph Missouri 64501
United States
( Theatre - Cinema Hall )
717 Edmond Street
Saint Joseph Missouri 64501
United States
( Theatre - Cinema Hall )
Event Organizer Contact:
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Event ID: 270439
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