Lafayette Theatre
Lafayette, IN Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Lafayette Theatre still looks ready for an evening at the movies. Its classic Art Deco marquee has been lighting up downtown Lafayette since 1938, making it one of those theaters that's hard to drive past without taking a second look.
UPDATE: The Lafayette Theater is not showing first run, but older movies. The theater can also be rented for events; weddings, receptions, parties, etc. It was completely renovated a few years ago on the inside. Find more information at www.lafayettetheater.com. Many thanks to Rich Herr for update. 04-08
While first-run movies are gone, the theater never lost its purpose. Today it hosts live performances and community events, keeping the old auditorium filled with audiences instead of sitting dark.
It's always nice to see a neighborhood theater survive, even if the show has changed.
UPDATE: The Lafayette Theatre continues serving downtown Lafayette as a performing arts venue while its historic marquee undergoes restoration. 07-26
Joy Youth Center (Closed)
Grand Rapids, MI Photo courtesy Steve Felder
It takes a second look to realize the Joy Youth Center began life as a neighborhood movie theater. By the time this photo was taken, the marquee had been replaced with a youth center sign, but the old theater's shape was still easy to recognize beneath the changes.
The building opened in 1938 as the Four Star Theatre, serving generations of moviegoers before finding new lives as a nightclub and later a neighborhood youth center. Like many old theaters, it adapted as the surrounding neighborhood changed, continuing to serve the community long after the movies had ended.
UPDATE: The former Four Star Theatre is now being restored as a community arts and cultural center, giving the old neighborhood theater another chance to bring people together. 07-26
La Salle Theatre
Cleveland, OH Photo courtesy Steve Felder
The La Salle Theatre still has the look of a neighborhood movie palace, even if the crowds lined up for Hollywood premieres are long gone. Its handsome marquee and classic facade continue to stand out along East 185th Street, hinting at a time when an evening at the movies was one of the biggest events in the neighborhood.
Opening in 1928, the La Salle welcomed audiences for more than sixty years before the projectors finally went dark. For a long time it looked like another grand theater that might quietly disappear, but thankfully that wasn't the case. A major restoration brought the building back to life, preserving much of its original character while giving it a new purpose.
Today the old theater once again hosts people beneath its marquee, only now they're gathering for weddings, performances, community events, and celebrations instead of the latest feature film. It's always encouraging to see a neighborhood landmark find another act rather than another wrecking ball.
UPDATE: Beautifully restored, the former La Salle Theatre now serves as the Ariel LaSalle Theater, continuing its role as a community gathering place. 07-26
Time Theatre (Closed)
Mattoon, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Time Theatre is one of those old movie houses that makes you slow down without even thinking about it. The Art Deco marquee is eye-catching enough, but it's the famous neon clock that really makes the building unforgettable. Even though the lights have been dark for years, that clock still gives the theater a personality all its own.
The theater reopened in 1938 after a fire destroyed an earlier theater on the site, giving downtown Mattoon one of its most distinctive landmarks. For decades, the Time welcomed generations of moviegoers through its doors. Saturday matinees, weekend dates, and countless evenings at the movies all passed beneath that marquee before changing times finally brought the curtain down on its days as a neighborhood cinema.
Time Theatre
Mattoon, IL Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The building wasn't finished yet, though. It later found new life as a performance venue and eventually a church, allowing the old theater to remain part of the community long after the projectors stopped rolling. Today it sits quietly along Broadway, its weathered marquee and classic terra-cotta facade still hinting at the excitement that once filled the block.
It's easy to imagine the sidewalk crowded with people reading the show times while the neon clock glowed overhead. Places like this remind you that the theater was often just as memorable as the movie itself.
Even standing empty, the Time Theatre remains one of those roadside landmarks that's impossible to drive past without taking a second look.
UPDATE: The Time Theatre has been vacant since 2018. Its iconic marquee and frozen neon clock still survive, waiting for another chance to shine. 07-26
Time Theatre and whole block view
Mattoon, IL Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Here's a shot of the block of buildings that the Time Theatre is a part of. The theatre stands out in contrast to the historic buildings in Mattoon, primarily due tot is distinct deco styling and colors.
Paxton Majestic Theatre (Gone)
Paxton, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Paxton Majestic Theatre spent nearly a century entertaining the people of Paxton. Opening in 1913 as a movie theater, it later found a second life as a community playhouse after the movies came to an end, proving there was still plenty of life left in the old building.
For years the stage hosted local productions, keeping the theater alive through the efforts of dedicated volunteers. It was the kind of hometown theater that became part of the community as much as the downtown itself.
UPDATE : Many thanks to Sherry Ecker for update that the theater has been
open for the past 15 years.
UPDATE: The Paxton Majestic Theatre went up in flames on the morning of November 13, 2007 and has been declared a total loss. After catching fire at about 10am, the marquee and roof collapsed an hour later. The theatre was last used for a play in 2006 and has been closed. The state fire marshall's office is investigating the cause of the fire, which also damaged three surrounding buildings in downtown Paxton. Many thanks to Doug Ehmen and Chris for update. 11-07
UPDATE: The Paxton Majestic Theatre was destroyed by fire in 2007. There have been discussions about rebuilding a replica, but the original theater is gone. 07-26
Lafayette Theatre
Joy Youth Center (Closed)
La Salle Theatre
Time Theatre (Closed)
Time Theatre
Time Theatre and whole block view
Paxton Majestic Theatre (Gone)
