October 12, 2011

Esquire Theater

Old and new photos of the Esquire Theater on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The theater first opened in January 1947.

Southeast Missourian archive

Esquire Theater circa January 1947 (Missourian archives)

Published March 13, 1985 Bob Livesay of McClure, Ill., changed the "closed" sign in the Esquire Theater box office to read instead that the movie theater would reopen the next week. The theater was purchased by Ed Fairbank, also of McClure, who began showing second-run movies at the low price of $1.50 per person. (Missourian archives)

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Traffic passes in front of the Esquire Theater at 824 Broadway in Cape Girardeau Tuesday afternoon, October 11, 2011. Plans for the future of the Esquire will be announced today at 10a.m. at the theater.

Photo made in October 1979 at the opening of the movie "Life of Brian" at the Esquire Theater. (Missourian archives)

Published March 13, 1985 The Esquire Theater was purchased by Ed Fairbank of McClure, Ill., from Dubinsky Bros. Theaters of Lincoln, Neb., in March 1985. He showed second-run movies there until December of that year, when he shut down for lack of attendance. (Missourian archives)

Photo made in October 1979 at the opening of the movie "Life of Brian" at the Esquire Theater. (Missourian archives)

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Workers began removing the damaged marquee in front of the old Esquire Theater on Thursday in the 800 block of Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Photo taken Jan. 4, 2008.

Published Tuesday, April 14, 1959 Due to the overflow crowd, a second showing of two cancer films under the auspices of the Cape County Chapter of the American Cancer Society at the Esquire Theater on Monday was necessary. The picture was taken at the first showing when the theater was completely filled. Another public showing for women only will be given at 7 Wednesday night at Central High School.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com The Esquire Theater at 824 Broadway in Cape Girardeau Tuesday afternoon, October 11, 2011. Plans for the future of the Esquire will be announced today at 10a.m. at the theater.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com People gather in front of the Esquire Theater in Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011 as the future plans for the theater are announced. The Esquire Theater has been purchased by John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, and will reopen to show art house and independent films, and will serve as a setting for community performances.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, announces the plans for the future of the Esquire Theater Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011 in Cape Girardeau. The theater will reopen to show art house and independent films, and will serve as a setting for community performances.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com John Mehner, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, speaks to the crowd in front of the Esquire Theater in Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011 as the future plans for the theater are announced. The Esquire Theater has been purchased by John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, and will reopen to show art house and independent films, and will serve as a setting for community performances.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger speaks in front of the Esquire Theater in Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011. The Esquire Theater has been purchased by John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, and will reopen to show independent films, student theater and cabaret.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer, Marla Mills, executive director of Old Town Cape, John Mehner, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, and Phil Penzel of Penzel Construction listen as John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, announces the plans for the future of the Esquire Theater Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011. The theater will reopen to show art house and independent films, and will serve as a setting for community performances.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger speaks to the crowd in front of the Esquire Theater in Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011 as the future plans for the theater are announced. The Esquire Theater has been purchased by John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, and will reopen to show art house and independent films, and will serve as a setting for community performances.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Cape Girardeau City Manager Scott Meyer speaks in front of the Esquire Theater in Cape Girardeau Wednesday morning, October 12, 2011. The Esquire Theater has been purchased by John Buckner, owner of Broadway Esquire Entertainment Group, LLC, and will reopen to show independent films, student theater and cabaret.

Esquire Theater circa 1947. (Missourian archives)

Published Oct. 21, 1979 Mrs. Marcia Schwab silently protested the opening of "Life of Brian" Friday night outside the box office at the Esquire Theater here, while customers purchased tickets. The man inside the box office was theater manager Jay Sproat. (Missourian archives)

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Old and new photos of the Esquire Theater on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The theater first opened in January 1947.

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