Rees Theatre
Plymouth , IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The Rees Theatre in Plymouth, IN was right downtown on old US 31 and is still operating. The theatre opened in 1939 and was restored in the 1990's. More information can be found at Cinematreasures.org. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 11-07

Stewart and Opal Rees purchased the building in 1939 and converted it into a modern, air-conditioned cinema. Opening night was February 1, 1940, with Remember the Night on the screen. After closing in 2009, the theater became the focus of a community restoration effort.

UPDATE: The REES reopened on October 1, 2022, as a multipurpose entertainment venue. Movies, concerts, theatrical performances, and community events have brought audiences back beneath the familiar marquee. Fortunately, this downtown landmark has another act left in it. 07-26

Biograph Theatre
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's the neon marquee for the Biograph Theatre in Chicago, IL. The Biograph is the place where John Dillinger went down in a hail of FBI bullets in the 30's. The Biograph was built in 1914 and was designated a Chicago Landmark in 2001. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 11-07

On July 22, 1934, John Dillinger walked out after watching Manhattan Melodrama and was shot by federal agents nearby. The building became a Chicago Landmark in 2001. Victory Gardens purchased it in 2004 and reopened it for live theater in 2006 following an extensive renovation.

UPDATE: After several largely quiet years, the Biograph is getting another turn in the spotlight. Porchlight Music Theatre announced its 2026–27 season at the historic venue, bringing fresh entertainment beneath one of Chicago's most recognizable theater marquees. Fortunately, this landmark still has more stories to tell. 07-26

Eagles Theatre
Wabash, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the Eagles Theatre in downtown Wabash. With its vertical sign and broad marquee, this old theater knows how to catch your attention. It has been welcoming audiences since 1906, back when vaudeville performers supplied the entertainment instead of Hollywood blockbusters. 11-07

Built by the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the building originally combined a theater with lodge rooms, offices, and an upstairs gathering hall. Movies eventually replaced vaudeville, but the upper floors fell into disrepair. The Honeywell Foundation acquired the property in 2010 and completed a major restoration, reopening it in February 2020.

UPDATE: Eagles Theatre continues presenting movies, concerts, and other live entertainment. The restored complex also includes recording studios, music lesson rooms, and a grand ballroom. That's quite a second act for a building that has already spent more than a century entertaining Wabash. 07-26

State Theatre (Closed)
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

The State Theatre still catches your eye in downtown Anderson, even with its doors closed. The tall vertical sign hints at the crowds that once gathered below, waiting for an evening at the movies. It's the kind of landmark that makes you stop and wonder what the auditorium looks like inside. 11-07

Opened in 1930, the State served generations of moviegoers before water damage and a lengthy legal dispute contributed to its closure in 2008. Several restoration attempts stalled, and the City of Anderson purchased the property in 2019.

UPDATE: The State remains closed and awaiting a workable restoration plan. Indiana Landmarks included it on its endangered list in 2023 and again in 2024, bringing attention to its deteriorating condition. Hopefully, the old theater can find the support needed to put something back on the marquee besides memories. 07-26

Paramount Theatre
Anderson, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's the Paramount Theatre, bringing a little movie-palace glamour to downtown Anderson. The towering sign gets your attention outside, but the real surprise is indoors. Its atmospheric auditorium was designed to make audiences feel as though they were sitting beneath a star-filled night sky. 11-07

The Paramount opened August 20, 1929, with the Marx Brothers in The Cocoanuts. Designed by noted theater architect John Eberson, it offered an elaborate escape from everyday life. Years of decline threatened that experience, but local preservationists stepped in, and the restored theater reopened in 1995.

UPDATE: The Paramount continues hosting concerts, movies, comedy, and other live events. Fortunately, Anderson saved both a downtown landmark and a theater where the surroundings are part of the show. An indoor evening under the stars still sounds like a pretty good attraction. 07-26