Fred paved the way for success by calling on help from his family, and coming into his own as a showman. The Wehrenbergs survived the Great Depression as the movie industry was more stable than most. In the winter, a canvas tarp trapped the heat from potbellied stoves to keep guests warm. Guests sat on folding chairs and benches placed on the bare ground. A screen was erected at one end of a fenced-in lot while an elevated projection booth was built across from it. Louis’ first open-air venue, basically a drive-in without cars. Business boomed, inspiring the Wehrenbergs to open a second venue, the Airdome. The saloon doubled as the theater's de facto concession stand, and many customers frequented both buildings. As silent movies flickered on the screen, Fred's nephew drummed in the background while his wife, Gertrude, played piano in the pit. The film inspired Fred to rent the former bakery next to his saloon, buy a piano and 99 kitchen chairs and launch the Cherokee Theatre in 1906. The one-time blacksmith who ran a saloon/grocery/butcher shop saw a simple film clip of passengers riding a train while scenery rushed by in the background. Louis World's Fair and saw something that changed his life.

In 1904, Fred Wehrenberg explored the St. It is a member of the National Association of Theatre Owners. It operates 15 movie theaters with 213 screens in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, including nine theaters with 131 screens in the St. Wehrenberg Theatres is the oldest and largest family-owned movie theater chain in America. The Wehrenberg 100th Anniversary logo (2006).

Marcus wehrenberg arnold