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Illinois Movie Theatres (page 3)

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Town Theatre
Chillicothe, IL		 Olympic Theatre
Cicero, 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]

The Olympic Theatre opened in 1927 as a ballroom. In 1939, it was converted into a movie theatre. It closed in 1993. It reopened a few times, briefly, and was used for live performances for a few years. This photo is from 2001. It reopened as a movie theatre and live performance venue in 2008. The sign and marquee were replaced. 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:
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 this website. [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]

Des Plaines Theatre
Des Plaines, IL

2009:

2024:
The Des Plaines Theatre opened as a vaudeville house in 1925. In 1935, it was remodeled as a movie house. In 1982, a fire nearly destroyed the theater, but it was reopened a couple of years later. It closed in 2008 and reopened later as a performing arts venue. In 2018, the City purchased the theatre. In 2019, the marquee was replaced with a replica with LED tubing. The poster display cases were removed. In 2021, the theatre reopened with live performances. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]

Tivoli Theatre
Downers Grove, IL
The Tivoli Theatre opened in 1928 and was one of the first theatres in the country with sound. The marquee was replaced in the 1960s. The original Wurlitzer organ was sold but, in 1992, another one from the Indiana Theater in East Chicago, IN was installed. The Tivoli has been restored several times. It now features films and live performances. For more, see this website. [map]

Grand Theatre
Du Quoin, IL
I believe the Grand Theatre was built in the 1920s. These photos are from 2010. The theatre has been closed since 2016. For more, see this website. [map]

Majestic Theatre
East St. Louis, IL
The Majestic Theatre opened in 1928 and closed in 1960. The building has been vacant since then. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

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