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Watseka Theatre update
posted by
WTM
on
June 7, 2007 at 3:33 pm
WATSEKA, IL — The Watseka Theatre opened in 1931 but started to fall on hard times in the late 60’s early 70’s. These hard times forced its closing in the 90’s only to see it’s upcoming rebirth later this year!
Charles Gomez has purchased the theatre and preservation efforts are already under way! The Watseka Theatre/Iroquois Performing Arts Center is now planning a New Years Eve Grand Re-Opening! New life is once again being placed in this Art Deco Gem! A Theatre Cafe and Bed and Breakfast are in the plans for the adjoining store fronts & those with fond old memories are asked to . That’s “Watseka Theatre Memories”!
Originally seating 660 with a new re-design for 580 seats, the historic theatre features hand painted murals, brass and frosted glass chandeliers with matching wall sconces, terrazzo floors and stairways, an original black marble ticket booth, neon front and marquee with never ending details of theaters from the golden age of entertainment! Walk through its doors and enter a time machine into one of this county’s, this town’s greatest landmarks from an era when performances and life styles where from a kinder, gentler and oh so much grander time.
