email: roadarch@outlook.com

Illinois Movie Theatres (page 3)

(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)

Will Rogers Theatre
Charleston, IL

2006:
2024:
The Will Rogers Theatre opened in 1938. The adjacent shops are faced with the same style terra cotta tile. The theatre was twinned in 1984. It has been closed since 2010. In 2012, new owners planned to restore the theatre but nothing has been done yet. For more, see this website. [map]

Nortown Theatre
Chicago Heights, IL
The Nortown Theatre was built in 1948 as a quonset hut movie theatre. It closed in 1985. It reopened in 1992 as Ochoa's Rainbow Hall. The building last housed the El Tunel Ballroom which closed by 2022. For more, see this website. [map]

Town Theatre
Chillicothe, IL
The Town Theatre was built in in 1920 as an opera house. It was destroyed in a fire in 1922. In 1927, it was rebuilt and opened as the Sunset Theatre. After another fire in 1949, it was renamed the Town Theatre and the current facade was added. It was twinned in 1982. Since 2009, the building has been owned and operated by the Chillicothe Optimist Club. The theatre closed in 2024 in order to be converted to a performing arts space. It is expected to reopen in 2025. For more, see this website. [map]

Olympic Theatre
Cicero, IL
The Olympic Theatre opened in 1927 as a ballroom. In 1937, it was converted into a movie theatre. It closed in 1993. It opened and closed several times after that. It has been closed since 2018. For more, see this website. [map]

Colfax:
Colonial Theatre [gone]

Fischer Theatre
Danville, IL
The Fischer Theatre opened in 1884 as the Grand Opera House. It was remodeled in 1912 and renamed the Fischer Theatre. The theatre had been closed since 1982. It reopened in 2019 with films, live performances, and private events. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Avon Theatre
Decatur, IL		 Lincoln Square Theatre
Decatur, IL
The Avon Theatre opened in 1916 as primarily a movie theatre. It closed in 1986 and reopened for less than a year in 1993. It was restored and reopened in 1999. For more, see this website. [map]

The Lincoln Square Theatre opened in 1916, featuring live theater, concerts, opera, vaudeville, and silent films. In the early 1960s, the front of the building was damaged by a fire next door. The top floor was removed at that time. It closed in 2017 and reopened in 2022 with live performances. For more, see this website. [map]

DeKalb Theatre
DeKalb, IL
2007: 2024 and 2025:
The DeKalb Theatre opened in 1949 and billed itself as the "Theatre of Tomorrow." It was twinned in the early 1980s. From 1984-1988, it was converted into a brew pub. After that, the building was housed a couple of Mexican restaurants. It now houses the Debutantes School of Beauty. The marquee and facade were restored around 2014. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Egyptian Theatre
DeKalb, IL
The Egyptian Theatre was designed by Elmer F. Behrns and opened in 1929. There are Egyptian Revival details inside the theatre and it is one of the best examples of the style in the country. The theatre now features live events and movies. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

IL (page 1) IL (page 2) IL (page 4) IL (page 5) IL (page 6) IL (page 7)
IL (page 8) IL (page 9) IL (page 10) IL (page 11) IL (page 12) IL (page 13) Chicago

Theatres
Main Page