The Architect ...
Ludwig Abt was an aggressive and energetic architect who was able to pursue to advantage his profession in a new society in a new world, unfettered by tradition and dogma. He emigrated from Germany and after working in several cities decided to return to Germany for further studies, especially in the use of reinforced concrete. He returned settling in Kansas City for awhile then answered the need for knowledge of reinforced concrete. Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the first American architects to exploit this material in 1910. After working for a while he decided to settle in Moberly, Missouri. A quest for knowledge and pursuit of the best way to create buildings and solve practical problems became a characteristic of Mr. Abt's work. Mr. Abt's advertising motto was "Ludwig Abt, Architect, Ideas Furnished" and this is what he did. He became world known for his designs of churches, movie palaces, colleges, such that his buildings became the morst important elements in many a townscape. The Fourth Street Theatre project has possession of Mr. Abt's original drawings and plans of the theatre. Abt later brought in Kay Cleavinger, a young architect and the firm eventually became J.K. Cleavinger & Associates.

The Opening...
The first program on opening day, February 8, 1914, was the vaudeville show, "The Three Elliotts", a high class musical act of famous harpists and soloists, followed by the first picture being shown, a three-reel photo play entitled "An Hour Before Dawn", starring Laura Sawyer. The seating capacity was 1000 but the newspaper reported that over 2000 passed through the doors to see the beautiful heavy mahogony swinging doors, wainscoting of white marble, ornate terra cotta trimmings in beautiful color schemes of greens and old ivory. The exterior of the building was massive and composed of terra cotta and dark red palens of brick, with a huge copper covered porte cochete enhanced by the suspending and erection of many electric lights.

Special Facts...

• Tickets in the beginning were adults ten cents, children 10 years, 5 cents.
• The theatre even had two machines to "throw" pictures on the curtain and a large Wurlitzer orchestration electric piano that could play like an 18 piece orchestra.
• On Sunday afternoons when entertainment was not allowed in the city of Moberly, The theatre served as a youth center for the local Catholic parishes.
• Bobby Carlton played at the Fourth Street Theatre, he later became famous for his timeless Popular song "JaDa".
• At one time Moberly was noted for its theatres. The city had four opera houses and four movie houses plus in the 50's a Drive-In theatre was opened which is one of the few in the country still operating today. The city hosts a five-screen movie complex adjacent to the Drive-In but the Fourth Street Theatre is the only remaining historic theatre left in Moberly today.