B&B Theatres
B&B Theatres is a family-owned and operated American movie theater chain based in Liberty, Missouri.[1][2] Founded in 1924, B&B is the fifth-largest theater chain in the United States, operating 500+ screens at 54 locations in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Nebraska, and Washington.[2][3] The company also maintains offices in Salisbury, Missouri and Fulton, Missouri.
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Type | Private |
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B&B Theatres | |
Industry | Entertainment (movie theatres) |
Founded | January 1, 1924 |
Headquarters | Liberty, Missouri |
Number of locations | 54 |
Website | B&B Theatres |
History
In 1924, Missourian Elmer Bills, Sr., founded Bills Theaters in Salisbury, Missouri. Elmer met his wife Johnnie when he purchased the Lyric Theater 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 theaters.[2] 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) Theaters on January 1, 1980, making the Fulton Cinema the first official B&B Theatre.[2] 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. From 2000 to 2014 B&B replaced several of their existing locations with new facilities as well as acquired, remodeled, or built several new locations. In 2010 B&B premiered their first PLF (premium large format) Grand Screen® and their first dine-in Marquee Suites® concept auditoriums.[2]
In October 2014, B&B purchased Overland Park, Kansas-based operator Dickinson Theatres.[4]
Digital cinema
In September 2009, B&B Theatres announced that it had selected Christie Digital Systems to supply 2K digital projectors for the circuit's transition to realD 3D-capable digital cinema.[5] The digital conversion was completed by August 2012.[6]
Locations

Florida
- Naples Towne Centre 6
- Wesley Chapel The Grove 16
Former locations
- Amelia Island 7 (closed)
- Sebring Fairmount Cinema 6 (closed)
- Tavernier Cinema 5 (Now independently owned)
- Venice Galleria Stadium 11 (now owned by Spotlight Theatres)
Georgia
Iowa
- Ankeny 12 with B-Roll Bowling
Kansas
- Chanute Roxy Cinema 4
- Dodge City Village 8
- Emporia Flinthills 8 Cinemas
- Hutchinson Mall 8
- Iola Sterling Six
- Junction City Gem
- Leavenworth Landing 5
- Overland Park 16
- Shawnee 18
- Topeka Wheatfield 9
Former locations
Minnesota
- Bloomington 13 at Mall of America
Missouri
- Bolivar Cinema 5
- Chillicothe Grand 6
- Clinton Missouri Cinema 6
- Festus 8 Cinema
- Fulton Cinema 8[8][9]
- Grain Valley Marketplace 8
- Hannibal Main Street Cinema 8
- Harrisonville Cineplex
- Lebanon Ritz 8
- Lee's Summit 16
- Lee's Summit New Longview 7
- Liberty Cinema 12
- Mainstreet KC at the Power & Light District[10]
- Moberly Five & Drive
- Monett Plaza 8
- Neosho Cinema 6
- KC Northland 14
- Ozark/Nixa 12
- Sedalia Galaxy 10
- Twin Drive-In
- Waynesville Patriot 12
- Wentzville Tower 12
- Wildwood 10[11]
Former locations
- Kansas City Extreme Screen Union Station (now run by Union Station)
- Lexington Cannonball 6 (now owned by VIP Cinemas)
Nebraska
- Omaha Oakview Plaza 14
North Carolina
Former locations
- Reno Cinema 8
- Oklahoma City Windsor 10 (closed)
South Carolina
- Conway 12
Texas
- North Richland Hills 8
- Port Arthur Central Mall 10
- Portland Northshore 8
- Wylie 12
Future locations
- Red Oak 12
Virginia
- Blacksburg 11 with B-Roll Bowling
Washington
See also
References
- "Gen. Business - For Profit Details as of 1/14/2017". Missouri Secretary of State. January 14, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "B&B Today". B&B Theatres. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "Locations". B&B Theatres. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- Stafford, Diane (October 9, 2014). "Overland Park's Dickinson Movie Theater Chain Changes Hands". Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "Midwest's B&B Theatres Selects Christie DLP Cinema® Projectors for Its Newest Locations". DCinemaToday.com. September 14, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- Williams, Joe (August 11, 2012). "Digital Revolution Could be Curtains for Old Theaters". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "VIP The Majestic". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-10-05.
- "Fulton Cinema Moves to 8-Screen Building". CinemaTreasures.org. January 23, 2006. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "History of The Fulton Theatre Fulton, Missouri" (PDF). TheBrickDistrict.Tripod.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- B&B Theatres prepares to open downtown location
- Bertacchi, Denise (October 1, 2010). "Wildwood 10 Now Open, Has Over 21 Theaters". DirectoryofStLouis.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
- "B&B Theatres buys 8-screen movie theater across from Northern Quest Resort and Casino". 5 May 2021.