Princess Theatre
Rushville, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Princess Theatre may not have a flashy marquee or grand movie palace architecture, but that's part of its charm. Sitting quietly along Lafayette Street, it's the kind of hometown theater that reminds you when every small town had a place to catch the latest movie.
Built in 1917, the Princess entertained generations of Rushville families before closing in 1992. Fortunately, local residents refused to let the old theater disappear. Through community support and countless volunteer hours, the Princess found a second life and once again became the town's movie house.
Today it remains a traditional single-screen theater, proving that sometimes the simplest neighborhood theaters are the ones people fight the hardest to save.
UPDATE: Operated by community volunteers, the Princess Theatre continues showing movies and remains a treasured downtown landmark. 07-26
Morton Grove Theatre (Gone)
Morton Grove, IL Photo courtesy Jason Carlton
The Morton Grove Theatre proved that even a neighborhood strip mall could have a little style. Its sweeping roofline and bold mid-century design gave this suburban movie house far more personality than most theaters of its era.
Opened in 1966, the theater entertained local audiences for years before later showing discount movies and even Bollywood films. Although the movies have long since ended, the building itself survives, and its distinctive curves still hint at its former life.
Sometimes the most memorable roadside finds aren't grand movie palaces—they're the unexpected little gems tucked between everyday storefronts.
UPDATE: The former Morton Grove Theatre building survives as a repurposed commercial space, though its marquee and theater interior are gone. 07-26
Gem Theatre
Kansas City, MO Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf
The Gem Theatre has been lighting up Kansas City's historic 18th & Vine district for well over a century. Its beautifully restored marquee and classic façade still capture the feeling of an era when an evening at the movies meant dressing up and heading downtown. Surrounded by one of America's most important jazz neighborhoods, the Gem feels right at home among the district's rich history.
UPDATE: The Gem was built in the early 1900's and still features its "gem" of a neon sign. 11-07
Originally opening in 1912 as the Star Theater before being renamed the Gem the following year, the theater was built to serve Kansas City's African American community during a time when segregation limited where people could gather for entertainment. For decades it welcomed audiences through its doors for silent films, talkies, and an evening out in one of the city's liveliest neighborhoods.
Like many classic movie houses, the Gem eventually closed and fell into disrepair. Even more remarkable is the fact that it survived the large-scale urban renewal projects that erased so many historic buildings throughout the surrounding area. At one point its future looked uncertain, but the theater escaped demolition when others were not so fortunate.
Gem Theatre
Kansas City, MO Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
A major restoration during the 1990s gave the Gem a second life. While the interior was rebuilt for modern performances, the theater's historic exterior and familiar marquee were carefully preserved, allowing the building to remain one of the visual anchors of the 18th & Vine district.
Today the Gem no longer shows movies, but it continues welcoming audiences for concerts, plays, community events, and special performances. It's always encouraging to see an old theater remain full of life, especially one with such an important place in the history of its neighborhood.
Some theaters survive because they're beautiful. Others survive because they matter. The Gem Theatre is fortunate enough to be both.
UPDATE: Beautifully restored as part of Kansas City's historic 18th & Vine district, the Gem Theatre continues serving as a vibrant performing arts center and cultural landmark. 07-26
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
The Rialto Square Theatre is one of those places that reminds you just how grand going to the movies once was. Since opening in 1926, this downtown Joliet landmark has welcomed generations of visitors beneath its glowing marquee and into one of the Midwest's most beautiful movie palaces.
Designed by the famed architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp, the Rialto began life as a lavish vaudeville and movie theater before evolving into a performing arts venue. Thanks to years of preservation and restoration, its breathtaking architecture continues to impress nearly a century after it first opened.
It's well worth taking a tour if you're passing through Joliet. Places like this don't come along very often.
UPDATE: The Rialto Square Theatre remains beautifully preserved and continues hosting performances while restoration work helps ensure its future. 07-26
Normal Threatre
Normal, IL Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
This old Abandoned Theatre in Normal
looks like its been closed for quite some time. 05-02
For a while, the Normal Theater looked like another classic movie house that had reached the end of the road. When this photo was taken, the Art Deco landmark sat quiet, making it easy to wonder if its marquee would ever light up again.
Opened in 1937 as the first theater in the area built for talking pictures, it entertained audiences for more than 50 years before closing in 1991. Fortunately, the Town of Normal stepped in, restored the theater to its original single-screen design, and gave the landmark a second chance.
Today the Normal Theater is once again showing films, proving that sometimes the best endings are the ones nobody sees coming.
UPDATE: Beautifully restored, the Normal Theater now operates as a thriving independent and classic film venue in Uptown Normal. 07-26
Times Theatre (Gone)
Jacksonville, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
The Times Theatre brought a touch of Art Deco style to downtown Jacksonville when it opened in 1941. With its streamlined façade and bright marquee, it was the kind of neighborhood movie house that made a night at the movies feel like an occasion.
Over the years the theater was modernized, twinned, and even recovered from a 1953 fire before continuing to entertain local audiences for decades. After closing as a movie theater in 2011, the building found a brief second life as a fitness center, but the remodeling altered much of its once-distinctive marquee.
Today the building sits vacant, but its graceful Art Moderne front still hints at the days when moviegoers lined up beneath the lights for the latest feature.
UPDATE: The Times Theatre remains standing in downtown Jacksonville, though it is currently vacant and its original marquee has been heavily altered. It had become a Krush Time nutrition store which is now permanently closed. 07-26
Times Theatre (Demolished)
Danville, IL Photo courtesy Don Gardner
In Danville, IL stands the Times Theatre. Well, at least until
recently. Sadly, the Times on Route 1 was demolished to make way for a
new-fangled drive-thru pharmacy. Many thanks to Don Gardner for info.
The Times Theatre was once one of Danville's best-known neighborhood movie houses, standing along busy Route 1 and welcoming generations of local moviegoers. Along with the Palace and Fischer theatres, it helped define the city's movie-going scene for decades.
It's always disappointing when a theater disappears completely. At least photographs like this one preserve a reminder of what once greeted travelers along Vermilion Street.
UPDATE: The Times Theatre was demolished, and the site has been redeveloped with a commercial pharmacy. 07-26
Princess Theatre
Morton Grove Theatre (Gone)
Gem Theatre
Gem Theatre
Times Theatre (Gone)
Times Theatre (Demolished)
