B&B Theatres

B&B Theatres is a family-owned and operated cinema chain in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Florida, USA. . Founded in 1924, B&B currently operates 200 screens, and is the 29th 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, where 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 three children: Steve, Bob, and Paula.

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 died in October 2000, and the remaining family run the National Association of Theatre Owners-recognized Midwest chain.

Recent Developments

2007

• The Warrenton 8 Cinema in Warrenton, MO, was opened as a brand new facility just east of the Warrenton Outlet Mall.

2008

2008 was a busy year for B&B Theatres as the company added on-line ticketing, three stadium screens to Monett, Missouri, stadium seating to four auditoriums in Festus, Missouri, and began construction on a new theater in Hannibal, Missouri.

2009

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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
  • Jason Foster, western district
  • Bobbie Bagby, Director of Marketing
  • Brittanie Bagby, Director of Concessions
  • Brock Bagby, Research Analyst

Locations

Each red dot shows the location of a B&B theatre as of 2007.

Missouri

• Bolivar Cinema 4
• Branson Cinema 11 (PLANNED)
• Grand 6 (Chillicothe)
• Festus 8 Cinema
• Fulton Cinema 8
• B&B Theatres Cineplex (Harrisonville)
• Main Street Cinema 8 (Hannibal)
• Lake West Cinema 5 (Gravois Mills)
• Ritz 7 (Lebanon)
• Cannonball 6 (Lexington)
• Liberty Cinema 12
• Lyric Theatre (Salisbury) (CLOSED)
• Marshall Cinema
• Moberly Five and Drive
• Monett Plaza 8
• Neosho Six
• Ozark Cinema 10 (PLANNED)
• Warrenton 8 Cinema
• Waynesville Cinema 8
• Towne Center 10 (Wildwood) (PLANNED)

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 Cineplex
• Ponca Plaza Twin
• Reno Cinema 8
• Sapulpa Cinema 8
• Windson 10 (Oklahoma City) (PLANNED)

Florida

• Tavernier Cinema 5

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