St. Louis Municipal Opera 1943

Explore a fascinating piece of history with the scanned program from the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny). This vintage document showcases the Silver Anniversary season amidst WWII, featuring iconic performances, local advertisements, and insights into the cultural landscape of St. Louis. Discover how this beloved institution has shaped the city’s artistic heritage. Perfect for history enthusiasts and fans of vintage memorabilia!

Historical Bus Routes to the Muny in 1943

Historical Bus Routes to the Muny in 1943

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It appears as if bus service to the Muny at Forest Park during World War II was very comprehensive! Bus service extended as far as Gravois and Hampton, Grand and Holly Hills, 3rd and Washington (downtown), Florissant and Kingshighway, and Delmar and DeBalviere… a pretty wide radius!

Also in these last few pages of the 1943 St Louis Municipal Opera program, besides ads, was the list of large donors who gave to the Municipal Theatre Associations guarantee fund. It reads like a long list of old St. Louis society’s who’s-who and includes Adolphus Busch II and his son, August Buch (of the Anheuser-Busch brewery). It’s interesting to see who the early supporters of the Muny were!

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A Brief History of the Muny – St. Louis Municipal Theater Association History (as written in 1943)

A Brief History of the Muny – St. Louis Municipal Theater Association History (as written in 1943)

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Explore the rich St. Louis Muny Opera history through these pages from the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera program. This archive includes the comprehensive Municipal Opera Productions Directory (from 1919-1942), offering a detailed glimpse into the evolution and milestones of the Muny Association, a cornerstone of St. Louis’ cultural heritage.

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List of St. Louis Businesses in 1943

List of St. Louis Businesses in 1943

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Discover the fascinating history of St. Louis businesses in 1943 as highlighted in the St. Louis Municipal Opera’s Silver Anniversary program. This WWII-era ephemera showcases local companies operating for over 50 and 75 years, revealing a vibrant economic history dating back to the 19th century. Explore businesses like Shapleigh Hardware, Christian Peper Tobacco, and Lindenwood College that shaped St. Louis’ economic and cultural legacy, all alongside wartime reminders to “Buy War Bonds.”

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Synopsis of The Great Waltz and more 1943 St. Louis Business advertisments

Synopsis of The Great Waltz and more 1943 St. Louis Business advertisments

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Here are more St. Louis beer and brewery advertisements and the synopsis of The Great Waltz from the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera Program.

Advertisers in these pages included: Falstaff Brewing Company, Manhattan Coffee, Efficiency Service Co (employment specialists), Griesedieck Brothers Brewing Company, The Circus Snack Bar at the Forest Park Hotel, and the Gaylord Container Corporation.

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1940s ads for St. Louis Businesses

1940s ads for St. Louis Businesses

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These 4 pages of the 1943 St. Louis Municipal Opera Program were a little less blatantly patriotic, but such a preponderance overall of beer advertisements and funeral parlors! In today’s modern theater program, you might find one advertisement for a Mausoleum, but not so many… it reminds me that 1943 was the thick of World War II when peoples’ husbands, sons, fathers and friends were coming home in body bags or not at all.

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World War 2 advertisements

World War 2 advertisements

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Here are four more pages scanned from the 25th anniversary program of the St. Louis Municipal Opera (now known as The Muny).

The Zodiac Cocktail Lounge and Bar at the Chase Park Hotel advertised Neil Bondshu and his Society Orchestra, Mary Raye and Naldi, Don Tannen (Russian Comedy Song Star), and “Snow White” Sensational Wizard of Tap with Bobby Swain and his “Note-ables”. Entertainment nightly with Joe Karnes and Betty Barr (satirical songs and piano styling). This was probably my favorite advertisement of these pages, because they really gave me a flavor for the type of WWII nightlife and entertainment available here in St. Louis.

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1940s theater program advertisements

1940s theater program advertisements

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Here are 4 more pages out of the 25th Anniversary Program for the 1943 season at the St. Louis Municipal Opera (The Muny). The St. Louis Municipal Opera was started in 1918, and 1943 was the 25th (Silver Anniversary) Season. Included is an advertisement for the musical romance “Rosalie”, an ad for Hunter Meat Food Products (out of East St. Louis Illinois), Philip Morris Cigarettes, Alpen Brau Beer (and KMOX) promotional advertisement, and an ad for Nu Grape Soda (bottled locally by American Soda Water Co.).

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A woman in a WAC uniform reading a newspaper during WWII.

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