Tate

I was visiting Bellefontaine Cemetery in North St. Louis I photographed this sphinx in front of a mausoleum. It was not until I processed the photo that I realized that it was kind of creepy looking.

This Egyptian-style mausoleum was built in 1907 by Frank Tate (1860-1934), who at the time controlled most of the theater property in St. Louis. He also owned theaters in Chicago and New York. The tomb’s façade appears formidable, with thick, sloping walls and a large post and lintel doorway. The entrance is guarded by a very masculine-looking pair of bearded sphinxes, perhaps in the likeness of Mr. Tate.

Historic Bellefontaine Cemetery, founded in St. Louis in 1849 as a non-sectarian community cemetery “open to all regardless of religious affiliations,” contains nearly 400 acres of lush landscaping and architecturally-acclaimed monuments, mausoleums and memorial features that can be seen in a self-guided scenic tour of the cemetery’s historical monuments and lots.