Lincoln Theatre
Massilon, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Lincoln Theatre in Massillon, OH caught my eye with its colorful marquee, but what really stood out was the price. Movies for just $3.00? Even back in 2000, that was a bargain. 11-00

The Lincoln first opened in 1915 and has been part of downtown Massillon for well over a century. Like many neighborhood theaters, it went through some difficult years before local preservationists stepped in and gave it a second chance.

It's always good to see an old theater like this still lighting up the street. The marquee alone is worth stopping for, and if the movie was only three bucks, there wasn't much reason to keep driving.

UPDATE: Today the Lincoln Theatre continues serving the community with classic movies, concerts, plays, and special events. The beautifully restored marquee remains one of downtown Massillon's best-known landmarks and still welcomes visitors to this historic theater. 07-26

The Norwalk Theatre
Norwalk, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Norwalk Theatre is one of those old downtown theaters that's hard to miss. Everything about it looks like a classic movie house, from the long marquee stretching over the sidewalk to the colorful Art Deco styling across the front. Best of all, it's still in remarkably good shape. 01-01

The theater opened in 1941 and entertained moviegoers for decades before eventually going dark. Fortunately, it was never lost. Instead, local preservationists stepped in to give the old theater another chance, proving once again that these old buildings are worth saving.

Even without a movie playing, the Norwalk Theatre is the kind of place that makes you slow down for a second look. It's another great reminder of a time when every downtown seemed to have its own neighborhood movie house.

UPDATE: Restoration of the Norwalk Theatre continues, with plans to reopen it as a community arts and entertainment center. The theater's massive marquee is believed to be the largest in Ohio and has been restored and once again lights up downtown Norwalk. 07-26

Main Theatre (Gone)
Royal Oak, MI
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Main Theatre in Royal Oak didn't need a flashy marquee to get your attention. The classic lettering across the front of the building gave it plenty of character and made it stand out from the newer theaters that came along later. 04-01

Opening in 1941, the Main spent decades showing movies before eventually becoming one of the area's best-known art theaters. It was the kind of place where you could catch a film that wasn't playing anywhere else, giving the old theater a loyal following long after many neighborhood movie houses had disappeared.

It's always fun finding theaters that still look like theaters. Even with a few changes over the years, the Main never lost the classic look that made it such a familiar sight in downtown Royal Oak.

UPDATE: Sadly, the Main Theatre permanently closed in 2021 and was demolished the following year to make way for new development. 07-26

Cla-zel Theatre
Bowling Green, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Cla-Zel Theatre is one of those downtown theaters that makes you want to see a movie just because of the building. From the classic marquee to the vintage facade, it looks like the perfect place to catch an old film the way it was meant to be seen. 01-01

The Cla-Zel opened in 1926 and remained a neighborhood movie house for nearly eighty years. It was one of those places that generations of local families grew up with before movies eventually gave way to live entertainment.

Fortunately, the theater never disappeared. Instead, it found a new life while keeping the same classic look that has made it a Bowling Green landmark for almost a century.

UPDATE: The Cla-Zel Theatre continues entertaining audiences today as a live music and event venue. The restored marquee still lights up downtown Bowling Green, proving that some old theaters can keep the show going even after the movies end. 07-26

Zoe Theatre
Pittsfield, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Zoe Theatre is a great example of 1950s theater design. The sharp angles, colorful marquee, and clean modern lines gave it a look that was completely different from the ornate movie palaces that came before it. By the time this photo was taken, though, the theater had already gone quiet. 04-06

Opening in 1950, the Zoe entertained Pittsfield moviegoers for nearly four decades before closing in 1987. Even after years of sitting vacant, the distinctive marquee continued to hint at how eye-catching the theater must have been during its heyday.

Sadly, not every old theater gets a second chance. Sometimes all that's left is a photograph and the memories of those who watched movies there.

UPDATE: The Zoe Theatre was sold in early 2026 after decades of vacancy. Plans call for the building to be demolished to make room for a restaurant expansion, bringing an end to one of Pittsfield's best-known mid-century landmarks. 07-26

Princess Theatre (Gone)
White Hall, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Princess Theatre has been dark for a long time, but there's still enough left to imagine what it must have looked like when movies were playing every night. Even without the old marquee, the building still stands as a reminder of White Hall's days as a classic small-town theater town. 04-06

The Princess opened in 1915 and spent decades entertaining local audiences with movies, stage shows, and even traveling performances. Like so many neighborhood theaters, changing times eventually caught up with it, and the movies stopped sometime in the 1950s.

Today the theater sits quietly along Main Street, blending into the downtown streetscape while hinting at a much livelier past. It's the kind of place that's easy to drive by, but worth a second look if you appreciate old movie houses.

UPDATE: The Princess Theatre remains standing but has been closed for decades. Although its marquee is gone and the building no longer serves as a theater, it continues to be part of White Hall's historic downtown. 07-26

Marvel Theatre
Carlinville, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Marvel Theatre is one of those old Route 66 landmarks that's worth slowing down for. Housed in a handsome brick building, it's the kind of downtown theater that reminds you of a time when nearly every town along the Mother Road had its own movie house. 04-06

The Marvel originally opened in 1920, but a devastating fire destroyed the building just a few years later. A new theater rose on the same site in 1928, and it has been entertaining Carlinville audiences ever since. Over the years it adapted to changing times, but it never lost its place as one of downtown's most recognizable buildings.

It's always nice to find an old theater that's still doing what it was built to do. Along a highway filled with nostalgic roadside stops, the Marvel fits right in.

UPDATE: The Marvel Theatre continues showing first-run movies today under local ownership. Its restored vintage-style signs and classic downtown setting make it one of the enduring Route 66 landmarks in central Illinois. 07-26