Chicago Theatre

Mt. Union Theatre (Demolished)
Alliance, OH
Photo courtesy Mark Hackett

The Mt. Union Theatre looked more like a campus building than a neighborhood movie house, but that plain frontage hid an unusual beginning. Before audiences settled in for a feature, the building had served as a Nash automobile dealership.

Converted into a theater in 1939, it opened with Deanna Durbin in That Certain Age. Mount Union College later used the auditorium for campus programs, giving the former commercial cinema another purpose after its regular moviegoing years ended.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this place went up to the big theatre in the sky. The building was demolished in 2013. 09-17

UPDATE: The university demolished the theater in 2013 to make room for a health and medical sciences building. Fortunately, some seats escaped the wrecking ball and were donated to the Roxy Theatre in Minerva. The building is gone, but at least part of its audience accommodation went on to welcome another crowd. 07-26

Empire Theatre (Demolished)
Cincinnati, OH
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Empire Theatre gave Cincinnati's Vine Street a colorful dose of Art Deco style. Even after the ticket window closed, its bold frontage still looked ready to announce another picture. Unfortunately, the building spent far longer waiting for a comeback than anyone would have hoped. 07-06

Its history reaches back to the silent-film era, with a major remodeling in 1936 supplying the streamlined appearance seen here. Movies ended in the 1960s, followed by decades of deterioration. A proposed revival as a concert and comedy venue never brought the promised rescue.

UPDATE: The theatre was demolished in July 2003 and is home to a wonderful vacant lot. 07-06

UPDATE: Following a roof collapse, the Empire was demolished in July 2003. Its distinctive facade and signage disappeared with the building. Plans for another entertainment venue had offered a little hope, but this neighborhood theater never got its second opening night. 07-26

Majestic Theatre (Closed)
Streator, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Majestic Theatre in Streator, IL is every bit as majestic as the marquee promises (deco!). The Majestic Theatre is now open and serving the public. Many thanks to Don Gardner for info.

Opened in 1907 for vaudeville, the Majestic underwent a substantial rebuilding in 1921 and another remodeling before reopening in 1936. Closures and revivals became recurring parts of its story. It even made the conversion to digital projection in 2014, only to close later that summer amid an ownership dispute.

UPDATE: The Majestic Theatre in Streator, IL is alive and well. More information can be found on the Majestic Theatre website. Many thanks to Doris Gaydos for update. 02-08

UPDATE: The Majestic remains closed, although its familiar marquee survives. Katie Troccoli acquired the building in October 2016 with plans to reopen it, but a return to regular operation has not been confirmed. Hopefully, the next change here will give that wonderful sign something new to advertise. 07-26

Roseland Theatre
Pana, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Roseland Theatre brings a welcome sweep of Art Moderne styling to downtown Pana. Its streamlined frontage and neon marquee make an evening at the movies look like a proper occasion. This is one hometown theater that still has a feature waiting behind the doors.

Originally known as Tanner's Roseland, it opened around 1940 under Harry Tanner's theater circuit. Its large single screen and decorated interior have kept the experience closer to an old neighborhood cinema than a modern multiplex. Fortunately, the building has continued attracting people for the purpose it was built to serve.

UPDATE: The City of Pana purchased the Roseland in January 2025, helping secure its future as a community movie house. First-run films continue beneath the familiar marquee. It's encouraging to see a town take a direct hand in keeping its theater's lights on. 07-26

Tivoli Theatre
Downers Grove, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Tivoli Theatre has been welcoming downtown Downers Grove moviegoers since Christmas Day 1928. Between the vertical sign, broad marquee, and grand auditorium, this was clearly a place built to make going to the movies feel special. 09-17

Designed for the new era of talking pictures, the Tivoli became the foundation of the Classic Cinemas story after the Johnson family purchased the property in 1976. The main auditorium survived intact, and a second, intimate 33-seat screening room was added in an adjacent storefront in 2021. More choice didn't have to mean carving up the original movie palace.

UPDATE: The Tivoli continues showing current films while preserving its historic character. The newer screening room supplements the large auditorium, keeping both a classic moviegoing experience and a practical modern business under the same roof. Fortunately, the marquee still has real coming attractions to announce. 07-26

Roxy Theatre
Ottawa, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Roxy Theatre still gives downtown Ottawa a proper neon welcome along LaSalle Street. Its projecting sign makes the movie house easy to find, while the upper facade offers a glimpse of a building that began entertaining audiences before talking pictures.

Opened around 1910 as the Gayety, the theater originally presented vaudeville. It took the Roxy name in 1932 as movies became its main business. Later expansion brought additional screens, but the downtown location and familiar exterior kept it connected to its neighborhood-theater beginnings.

UPDATE: The Roxy continues operating as VIP Roxy Cinemas. The program has changed countless times since the Gayety days, but audiences still head downtown to catch a movie. Fortunately, Ottawa kept both a working cinema and one of the signs that helps give LaSalle Street its character. 07-26

Granada Theatre
Mt. Vernon, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The Granada Theatre gives downtown Mount Vernon a welcome splash of Art Deco movie-palace style. Opened December 16, 1937, it was designed by the Boller Brothers for Fox and offered roughly 1,200 seats. Air conditioning was another attraction—quite a selling point during an Illinois summer.

The marquee gained additional neon in 1948, making an already noticeable theater even harder to miss. After its cinema years ended, preservationists began a long campaign to bring it back. A later restoration completed the lobby and storefronts in 2019, followed by the auditorium in September 2020.

UPDATE: The Granada Theatre has been sold to a local developer. According to this news article, the non-profit organization that has owned the theatre from 2002 will be dissolved. Anticipation is that the theatre will be partially reopened in Fall of 2017 and reopened in spring 2018. 05-17

UPDATE: The Granada now serves as a live-entertainment and event venue, hosting concerts, celebrations, and other gatherings. Its restored exterior once again gives downtown a proper theater welcome. Fortunately, this one's next attraction turned out to be another chapter rather than demolition. 07-26