Liberty Theatre (Closed)
Vandalia, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Liberty Theatre is one of those old downtown theaters that's hard to drive past without taking a second look. The Art Deco front, unique lettering, and classic marquee give it plenty of character, even though the ticket booth has been quiet for years. 04-06

Originally opening as the Dixie Theater around 1910, the building received its Art Deco makeover during the 1930s and became the Liberty Theatre. It remained a hometown movie house for generations before finally closing in 2008.

Old theaters like this always make you wonder how many Saturday nights, first dates, and weekend matinees passed through those front doors. Even sitting empty, it's still one of the highlights of downtown Vandalia.

UPDATE: A local nonprofit is working to restore the Liberty Theatre as a performing arts and community event center. The historic marquee and Art Deco facade are planned to remain, giving this old theater a chance to welcome visitors once again. 07-26

Liberty Theatre
Vandalia, IL
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's another shot of the Liberty Theatre, this one taken in late 2008. The front facade of the theatre has been repainted to lighter, more pastel colors.

According to Cinema Treasures, the theatre was opened around 1910 as the Dixie Theatre. The sign says "closed" possibly due to a damaged roof sustained in early 2008. 11-08

State Theatre (Rem.)
Wayne, MI
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

The State Theatre is one of those buildings that's impossible to miss as you drive through downtown Wayne. The rounded Art Deco facade immediately catches your attention, but it's the tall vertical STATE sign that really pulls your eyes toward the building. Even though the theater was closed when this photo was taken, it still looked every bit like a neighborhood movie house waiting for the next show to begin.

UPDATE: This is the State Theatre in Wayne, MI in Wayne County. It is located at 35310 Michigan Ave and is at the NW corner of Michigan Ave and Newberry Street. The theatre was built in 1946 as a single screen theatre. It was designed by Ted Rogvoy and is now a 4 screen theatre. Many thanks to Mark Comstock for updated info. 12-08

There was a time when theaters like this were the center of town on weekend nights. Before giant multiplexes and stadium seating became the norm, places like the State were where families gathered, teenagers met friends, and Saturday afternoons were spent escaping into whatever was playing on the big screen. Looking at this theater today, it's easy to imagine the sidewalk filled with people checking the marquee before heading inside.

State Theatre
Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Mark Comstock

The State opened its doors in 1946, just as America was entering the post-war boom. It was built in the streamlined Art Deco style that was so popular at the time, giving Wayne a modern movie palace with sweeping curves instead of the ornate architecture found on many theaters from the 1920s. The building quickly became one of downtown's best-known landmarks and remained a favorite destination for local moviegoers for decades.

Like so many neighborhood theaters across the country, the State eventually found itself competing with newer multiplexes that offered more screens, bigger parking lots, and all the latest amenities. Many classic theaters weren't able to survive those changes, and countless downtown movie houses were demolished or converted into something completely different. For a while, it looked like the State might suffer the same fate.

Fortunately, that never happened. The building survived, and that's something worth celebrating. Every old theater that remains standing helps preserve a little piece of what America's downtowns once looked like. It's not just about saving a building—it's about holding onto the character that made these communities unique.

State Theatre
Wayne, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Comstock

One of my favorite details is how little the front of the theater has changed. The rounded facade still gives the building a futuristic look, even after all these years, and the vertical sign remains one of those classic downtown landmarks that can be spotted from blocks away. It's the kind of architecture we simply don't see built anymore.

Driving around the Midwest, I've learned that old theaters almost always deserve a second look. Some have become churches, furniture stores, or apartments. Others sit quietly waiting for someone to bring them back to life. Every now and then, though, you find one that's managed to keep doing exactly what it was built to do. Those are always the most satisfying discoveries.

State Theatre
Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Mark Comstock

The State Theatre is a great reminder that roadside treasures don't always have to be giant neon signs or quirky attractions. Sometimes they're simply the buildings that have watched generations come and go while continuing to define the streets they call home.

UPDATE: The State Theatre has since been restored and once again welcomes moviegoers as a first-run theater operated by Phoenix Theatres. Its landmark vertical sign, sweeping marquee, and distinctive rounded Art Deco facade continue to make it one of the most recognizable buildings in downtown Wayne, proving that another classic neighborhood theater has lived to see a new generation. 07-26

Crump Theatre
Columbus, IN
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

The Crump Theatre is one of those theaters that gets better the closer you get. The towering vertical neon sign is impossible to miss, but once you're standing in front of the building it's the details that really stand out. The enameled porcelain panels, colorful tile work surrounding the ticket booth, and classic Art Deco styling are reminders of a time when theaters were built to be attractions all by themselves.

Although the Crump has the look of a 1940s movie palace, its story actually reaches back to the late 1800s, making it the oldest surviving purpose-built theater in Indiana. Over the years it has welcomed generations of moviegoers and theater audiences while remaining one of downtown Columbus' best-known landmarks.

This is the kind of place that's worth slowing down for. The craftsmanship is outstanding, and it's easy to appreciate why theaters like this became the centerpiece of so many American downtowns.

Crump Theatre
Columbus, IN
Photo courtesy Jay Lin

UPDATE: The Crump Theatre is now undergoing a major restoration that will preserve its historic Art Deco facade, marquee, and famous vertical neon sign while transforming the building into a new performing arts center for future generations. 07-26