B&B Theatres is a family-owned and operated American movie theater chain based in Liberty, Missouri. 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. The company also maintains offices in Salisbury, Missouri and Fulton, Missouri.
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. 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. 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.
In October 2014, B&B purchased Overland Park, Kansas-based operator Dickinson Theatres.
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. The digital conversion was completed by August 2012.
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
Athens, Georgia 12
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
Concordia The Majestic Theatre (now owned by VIP Cinemas) McPherson Cinema 4 (now owned by VIP Cinemas)
Minnesota
Bloomington 13 at Mall of America
Mississippi
Ridgeland Northpark 14
Vicksburg Mall 6
Missouri
Bolivar Cinema 5
Chillicothe Grand 6
Clinton Missouri Cinema 6
Festus 8 Cinema
Fulton Cinema 8
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
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
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
Park West 14
Oklahoma
Claremore Cinema 8
Miami Cineplex
Sapulpa Cinema 8
Tulsa Starworld 20
Former locations
Reno Cinema 8
Oklahoma City Windsor 10 (closed)