Celebrating our 25th Year of Performances

Showboat Community Theatre

Showboat History

Compiled by Mimi Schmidt, 2007

1934-35:    Theatre built by John Helmers. He also built the building east of Showboat which was a bar for many years. The buildings share a common wall.

1935, Jan 26:  Casper (Cap) Bassman and his wife opened the Hermo Movie Theatre, renting the theatre from Mr. Helmers.  A young man in Hermann won a naming contest by combining “Hermann” and “Missouri” to make “Hermo.”

1940’s:      The Hermo was operated by Bill Williams of Union, MO, who also rented the building.

1972:         J.J. Schmidt, Inc. bought the building and renovated it. The theatre, at that time, was in extremely poor condition. Up-to-date equipment was purchased from Wade Williams of Kansas City, MO, a broker of theatre equipment. The Schmidts ran the theatre under the name “Showboat” until December 31, 1979, when it was sold to Ramsey Mason. who operated the theatre until he left the area, and First Bank took over the theatre.

1980’s:      Jim Dierberg of First Bank suggested to Mimi Schmidt that he would give the theatre to the community if she found a tax-free organization willing to accept the deed. Historic Hermann, Inc. agreed to accept the building provided they did not have to operate the theatre. They asked that a board be formed which would take over full operation, and the following members accepted this responsibility: Ross Boeger, Bill Beard, John Gifford, B.A. Wagner, Mimi Schmidt, Lee Sammons, Jeff Schmidt, George Johnson.

1984, May 13: The Showboat Community Theatre opened with a Mother’s Day show, directed by Mimi Schmidt, featuring cast members from the Rotunda Shows, which had performed in the city park Rotunda for several decades. From then on, Mimi directed or accompanied over 200 performances for the Showboat Theatre, eighteen years of them with a group called “The Showstoppers,” which performed for bus tours.

2005:         A complete electrical upgrade was made, funded by a $35,000 fund drive. This allowed for the completion of the electrical upgrade and phase on of the lighting upgrade.

2006:         The marquee was repaired, and a new sign was installed.

2007:         Phase two of the stage lighting was completed, and new stage curtains were installed.