Cherokee-Lemp Historic District

The faded lettering on the east side of this building once read "Wehrenberg's." In 1907, Fred Wehrenberg operated a grocery/saloon in this corner storefront. A year later he had rented a vacant storefront nearby on Cherokee and converted it into St. Louis' first recorded nickelodeon — beginning the Wehrenberg Theatre chain.

Wehrenberg bought used kitchen chairs to seat the movie-goers. His wife, Gertrude, accompanied the silent features on piano — playing "Hearts and Flowers" for love scenes and "Light Cavalry" when the Indians were chasing the stage coach or the soldiers came riding to the rescue.

Wehrenberg charged a nickel for each 35-minute picture feature. A full-house netted $4.95. At intermission, the movie-goers scrambled next door for a stein of beer at the Wehrenberg Saloon.

Soon the Wehrenbergs were operating an airdrome on Jefferson Avenue beside their storefront theatre. Airdomes — open air theaters surrounded by board fences and with benches for seating — provided outdoor entertainment on steamy, hot summer evenings. Wehrenberg also operated the airdome in winter, putting on a canvas top and heating it with pot-bellied stoves.

In 1910, Fred and Gertrude built the city's first theatre designed exclusively for movies — also on Cherokee. The Wehrenbergs' history is further interwoven



with Cherokee since they expanded to operate several movie houses along the street.

Wehrenberg Theatres — with beginnings on Cherokee — is one of the nation's largest theatre circuits, and is the oldest family owned and operated chain in the United States.

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