The Rodgers Theater with the new restored marquee.Photo byRustyvp, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The historic Rodgers Theatre building is at 204-224 North Broadway in Poplar Bluff, Missouri (Butler County). The theatre address is 204 North Broadway. The other addresses are for commercial spaces.

It's amazing what renovation and historic restoration can do to an old theatre building that's part of history. This theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 19, 2001. Restoration can be ongoing because it can be costly, especially to maintain the historic integrity and to update systems.

The Rodgers Theatre was constructed in 1949. It's a three-story commercial building made of concrete and red brick. The architectural styles include the Moderne Movement of Art Deco and Art Moderne. The designer was a notable St. Louis architect, Hugo K. Graf (1888-1953). Early in Graf's career, he was associated with another prominent St. Louis architect, William Ittner. The construction company was Stephens, Edgar & Sons of Cairo, Illinois.

The theatre operated from 1949 to 1998. Sometimes it was used for live entertainment. After a cinema complex was built on the outskirts of Poplar Bluff, the owner of Rodgers Theatre, then Kerasotes Theatres, closed it down. Later Kerasotes Theatres donated the building to Butler County.

The Rodgers Theatre building is important because of its architecture. It's also the only remaining historic theatre building in downtown Poplar Bluff. When it was nominated for the National Register, it was vacant and going to be restored.

The historic Rodgers Theatre can be rented for weddings.Photo byHistoric Rodgers Theatre via Facebook.

Isaac Walter “I.W.” Rodgers

Rodgers, born in 1875, started his career in show business in 1893. He and his partner, Clarence Medley, acquired a phonograph and exhibited it in churches, lodge halls, and schools. They also had an X-ray machine. Eventually, Rodgers bought out his partner.

When motion pictures hit the scene, Rodgers sold the X-ray machine and phonograph and purchased a movie projector. Close to 1900, he married and they acquired a theatre in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

After hearing about the economic growth in Poplar Bluff, they visited that town. Walter and Grace tried to lease the Criterion Theatre from William N. Barron but he wasn't interested until the theatre had fire damage. Barron is also a historical person of that era.

The Criterion Theater was opened in 1911. In 1914 it was damaged by fire and was taken over by Rodgers Theatres who made repairs and reopened it. It was closed on August 22, 1957 and was converted into a department store. (Source.)

In 1914, Walter, Grace, and their 7-year-old son, Carson, moved to Poplar Bluff. After the theatre was repaired including the installation of a state, there were vaudeville acts and films in the theatre. This theatre was the first of their chain of movie houses in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

In the early 1920s, the Rodgers family relocated their home and company headquarters to Cairo, Illinois. They still had strong ties to Poplar Bluff.

The Rodgers Theatre was described by the local paper as having a large circular lobby, advanced theatre seats, and there was even a cry room for mothers and young children.

The Rodgers also had a drug store which was as inviting as their theatre because it had a 40-foot soda fountain. They also had tenants fill their theatre building in the additional commercial spaces.

On June 1, 1949, the theatre held its grand opening with the town's mayor, E.W. Robinson, to purchase the first ticket. The theatre had two showings of Red Canyon.

The Rodgers family continued to own and operate their theatres until the mid-1960s. When the Rodgers Theatre opened in 1949, Walter and Grace's son, Carson, took over managing I.W. Rodgers Theatres.

Isaac Walter “I.W.” Rodgers died on January 21, 1958, at age 82. Son, Carson Winifred Rodgers, died on July 8, 1964, at age 56. After Carson died, I. W. Rodgers Theatres was sold to Kerasotes Theatres which owned and operated the theatre from the mid-1960s until 1998. Kerasotes Theatres divided the theatre auditorium into two to add a second screen. Grace Sullivan Rodgers died in 1976, at age 89.

As was the fate of other historic theatres, a multi-screen theatre complex replaced the business and popularity of the Rodgers Theatre. However, the theatre building wasn't torn down which is great news, and instead was donated to Butler County.

A non-profit organization known as The Rodgers Theatre Inc. was established to restore the theatre. It had to raise funds for the building's rehabilitation with the county paying for its maintenance and insurance.

Today, the theatre features Silver Screen Sundays showing old memorable films. Visit here if you would like to donate to help preserve the history of this theatre building.

Thanks for reading.