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| Photo: Current owner, Bridget Bagby, got her start in the business by helping to promote her grandfather's (Elmer Bills, Sr.) theatres at local parades with her sister, Brenda. |
B&B Theatres is a family owned and operated company
specializing in medium sized cities.
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In business since 1924
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Currently operates 200 theatre screens in
Florida,
Kansas,
Missouri, &
Oklahoma
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The 29th largest theatre company in the nation
Robert Bagby, President of B&B, graduated from Kansas State
University in 1979 with a B.S. in Business
Administration/Accounting. Robert and his wife, Bridget,
have been married since 1979, have three children, and
reside in Liberty, Missouri, where the company operates the
Liberty 12 Cinema.
Elmer Bills, Sr. founded Bills Theatres in Salisbury,
Missouri, in 1924. When Elmer Sr. bought the Lyric Theatre
in Salisbury, he met his future wife, Johnnie, the piano
player for the silent movies. A few years later, Elmer
Bills, Jr. was born into the business.
In 1936, at age ten, Sterling Bagby went to work for Elmer
Bills, Sr. as a concession clerk. After serving in World War
II, Sterling married his Higbee, Missouri, ticket seller,
Pauline Bagby. Together, they started the
Bagby
Traveling Picture Show presenting movies
throughout rural Missouri, traveling with the film,
projection, equipment, seats and snack bar. The Traveling
Picture show presented movies in barns, schools, and parks.
The company would eventually evolve into a Kansas circuit of
drive-in theatres and
hardtops
(indoor theatres).
In 1959, Elmer Bills, Jr. graduated from the University of
Missouri and married Amy (lovingly referred to by him as
"the best popcorn girl he ever hired"). Elmer & Amy joined
Elmer Sr. & Johnnie and continued the expansion of Bills
Theatres, Inc.
 On
January 1, 1980, the Bagby and Bills families cemented
decades of friendship by formally combining the two theatre
companies into B&B (Bills & Bagby) Theatres. At the same
time, Sterling & Pauline's son, Bob, married Elmer & Amy's
daughter, Bridget, truly bringing the families together.
After taking us into the 21st Century, Sterling Bagby passed
away in October, 2000. Today, Bob & Bridget, Elmer & Amy,
and Pauline run one of the Midwest's fastest growing theatre
circuits. The company was recognized in 1999 by the
National Association of Theatre Owners as one of the
oldest family-owned circuits in the Midwest.
Photo
above right:
Elmer & Amy Bills, Bob & Bridget Bagby, the late Sterling
Bagby & Pauline Bagby. Photo taken in 1999.
Through the years, B&B has seen the coming of sound, color
films, wide screen movies, and many advances in stereo sound
and projection. Our newest complexes offer the latest in
sound and comfort, including DTS surround sound in all
auditoriums, cup holders, Stadium seating, wide screens and
Digital projectors with 3D capabilities. Our "extended
family" now consists of over nine hundred employees who
continue to offer the finest in customer service. Today, B &
B operates large multi-plexes but continues to operate a
number of classic small town theaters - including Elmer
Senior's Lyric Theatre in Salisbury, Missouri where it all
started many years ago.
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PICTURED ABOVE the fourth generation of
the B&B family; Brittanie Bagby, Director of Concessions;
Brock Bagby, Research Analyst; and Bobbie Bagby, Director of
Marketing. They are the children of Bob & Bridget Bagby |
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One of B&B's Newest Theatres |
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| ABOUT MR. & MRS. EMLMER BILLS |
 The following was published in the Kansas City BOXOFFICE Magazine March 18, 1974.
A salute to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bills, Sr. on their golden
anniversary as Missouri exhibitors and election of five new
directors were features of the annual membership meeting
held by the United Motion Picture Ass'n in the Shawnee Room,
Crown Center Hotel, Tuesday. The meeting was held in
connection with the Show-A-Rama 17, the annual four-day UMPA
convention at the same hotel. Chosen as new directors were
Dick Durwood, Paul Ricketts, Doug Lightner, Tom Fleming, and
Jim Lewis.
Presentation of a plaque to "Elmer and Johnnie Bills for 50
Years of Showmanship" was made by Ben Shlyen, editor and
publisher of BOXOFFICE Magazine, and was a joint salute by
UMPA and this publication to the northern Missouri
exhibitors. Elmer Bills, Sr. began his industry career in
1924, when he and his foster uncle bought the Lyric Theatre
in Salisbury. Elmer Bills, Jr., who grew up in his parents'
theatre business, was present for the salute to his parents
and gave the treasurer's report.
Photo caption at right: North Missouri exhibitors Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Bills, Sr., are honored for "50 years of showmanship" at the annual membership meeting of the United Motion Picture Ass'n, held in conjunction with Show-A-Rama 17 in Kansas City. The plaque was a joint presentation to the Bills by UMPA and BOXOFFICE, the presentation being made by Ben Shlyen, center, editor and publisher of the magazine.
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