Centennial celebrations planned for City Hall and the Missouri Theater

By Charles Christian

Two St. Joseph landmarks are approaching their 100th year anniversaries, and celebrations will begin almost three years in advance.

Both buildings were built in 1927 and were both products of the work of a young artist who would become a nationally renown sculptor, Waylande Gregory. A planning committee has been assembled and is chaired by Lori McAlister, former managing director of the Saint Joseph Symphony. Interim City Manager Clint Thompson, who has worked at City Hall for 28 years, said the building’s very presence makes an important statement about St. Joseph.

“City Hall itself has a grand presence to it,” Thompson said. “It really is the front door as you enter Downtown.”

Thompson added that the building’s unique architecture inside and outside of the building demonstrates the foresight of city leaders who wanted to establish St. Joseph’s potential.

“They believed St. Joseph was going to have a presence and place on the map, and they wanted a building that signified that,” he said.

The same can be said of the Missouri Theater. Originally built by Paramount as a movie house in 1927, it was one of the few buildings that boasted an air conditioner. According to Frank Polleck, who has worked in various capacities at the Missouri Theater for 44 years, the theater has been a focal point for a variety of art and a wide range of audiences.

“Even when it was a movie theater, people came here and have memories of coming here as a child,” Polleck said. “When it became a performance hall in 1979, more memories were created among performers, musicians and audiences.”

Polleck added that it is one of the few buildings left that has the unique art and architecture from Garland.

“It really is a unique place,” Polleck said. “And people should celebrate the fact that St. Joseph has a venue and an arts community like it has.”

To anticipate and celebrate the forthcoming centennial, the celebration committee is beginning with three events in October. First, on Friday, Oct. 18, the committee will unveil the special centennial graphics at First Christian Church in St. Joseph, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Then, Oct. 19, the Downtown Public Library will host a writer’s workshop at 9:30 a.m. Finally — for the time being — First Christian Church will host a concert by multi-instrumentalist Lori Lacy, beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 19.

The committee is planning more special events as the actual centennial date of 2027 approaches.