A two-story front of buff brick and terra cotta, three bays wide. Each upper bay held a tall round-arched opening with a fanned brick archivolt, a carved keystone cartouche, and a circular oculus set within the arch. A balustraded parapet capped the front, centered on an ornamental cartouche, with paneled piers dividing the bays. At street level three entrances stood between polished dark-marble piers and poster cases, lit by hanging globe lamps beneath the arches.
The Lafayette Theatre was built in 1909 and opened in 1910, designed by Gustav P. Wuest for the Independent Amusement Company. It was promoted as the first St. Louis theater built specifically for motion pictures and light vaudeville, and seated about 850, including a 100-seat balcony. The house later passed to Arthur Enterprises and the St. Louis Amusement Company before closing in 1957. It was demolished within the following years.
