B&B Theatres

B&B Theatres is a small, family-owned and operated cinema chain in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, USA. . Founded in 1924, B&B currently operates or books 190 screens, and is the 33rd largest theatre chain in the nation. They maintain offices in Liberty, Salisbury, and Fulton, Missouri.

History

In 1924, Missourian Elmer Bills, Sr., founded Bills Theatres in Salisbury, Missouri. Elmer met his wife, Johnnie, when he purchased the Lyric Theatre in Salisbury, as she was the piano player for the silent films. Their son, Elmer Bills, Jr., was born a few years later. In 1959, Elmer Jr. graduated from the University of Missouri and married one of his "popcorn girls", Amy. The two generations of Bills continued the expansion of the company, and welcomed the birth of Elmer Jr. and Amy's daughter, Bridget.

Sterling Bagby went to work for Elmer Sr. as a concession clerk at age 10 in 1936. After serving a stint in World War II, Bagby returned to Missouri and married a ticket seller from Higbee, Pauline. Together, the Bagbys started the Bagby Traveling Picture Show. The Show was, in essence, a portable movie theater, and the Bagbys traveled along with the equipment (including seats, snack bar, film, and projectors) showing movies in schools and barns. Their company became a Kansas circuit of both drive-ins and "hardtop" indoor movie theatres. Sterling and Pauline have one son, Bob.

The two companies formally merged after years of friendship and combined efforts as B&B (Bills and Bagby) Theatres on January 1, 1980. Just months earlier in 1979, Bob Bagby married Bridget Bills and cemented the convergence of the two companies. Sterling passed away in October 2000, and the remaining family run the National Association of Theatre Owners-recognized Midwest chain.

Recent Developments

In 2006, the company opened the Fulton Cinema 8, to replace the historic two-screen theater that had been located in downtown Fulton, Missouri. The older building was donated by B&B Theatres to the Callaway Arts Council, and is being renovated into a live performance stage.

Also in 2006, the Majestic Theatre in Concordia, Kansas and the Roxy Cinema 4 in Chanute, Kansas were opened. As in Fulton, the Chanute location replaced an older theater.

B&B is looking at plans for a 8-screen theatre in Hannibal, Missouri.

Key People

• Owners
  • Robert "Bob" Bagby (President)
  • Bridget Babgy
  • Elmer Bills
  • Amy Bills
  • Pauline Bagby
• Management Staff
  • Dan VanOrden, circuit general manager
  • Cliff Holbert, southeastern district
  • Dan Marchewka, southwestern district
  • Lovie Lightner, northern district
  • Jason Foster, western district

Locations

B&B Theatres operates theatres in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Each red dot shows the location of a B&B theatre.

Missouri

• Bolivar Cinema 4
• Grand 6 (Chillicothe)
• Festus 8 Cinema
• Fulton Cinema 8
• Hannibal Cinema 5
• Lake West Cinema 5 (Gravois Mills)
• Ritz 7 (Lebanon)
• Cannonball 6 (Lexington)
• Liberty Cinema 12
• Lyric Theatre (Salisbury)
• Marshall Cinema
• Moberly Five and Drive
• Monett Plaza Five
• Neosho Six
• Warrenton Cinema 8
• Waynesville Cinema 8

Kansas

• Roxy Cinema 4 (Chanute)
• Cowley Cinema 8 (Winfield)
• Dodge City Village 8
• El Dorado Central Cinema 6
• Independence Cinema
• Iola 54 Drive-In (Gas City)
• The Majestic Theatre (Concordia)
• McPherson Cinema 4
• Sterling Six (Iola)

Oklahoma

• Claremore Cinema 8
• Miami Cinema 4
• Ponca Plaza Twin
• Reno Cinema 8
• Sapulpa Cinema 8

See also

• Movie theatre

References

• Dzurick, Alex (2006). Fulton Cinema moves to 8-screen building. Cinema Treasures.
• B&B Theatres company website

External links

• B&B Theatres company website
• Cinema Treasures
• National Association of Theatre Owners