Recently visited Venice and went into this theater/grocery store. It is absolutely the most gorgeous grocery store I’ve ever seen. I’ve uploaded a few photos of the interior in the photo section.
As of 2011, the building was called the Riverfront Opry House. It is listed at 143 Main Street, Cave-in-Rock, IL with 200 seats.
Here’s an article from the Harrisburg Register dated April 22, 2011.
Riverfront Opry House returns live drama to Cave-In-Rock stage
Brian DeNeal
updated: 4/22/2011 9:19 PM
Cave-In-Rock’s Riverfront Opry House has come back to life.
The one-time movie theater in operation during the 1950s has hosted a smattering of events since it last showed movies, but the Riverfront Opry House Restoration Committee is hoping to bring community theater to area residents once a month.
The committee’s president Shirley Lewis and her husband, Lonnie, owners of the Cave-In-Rock Ferry, bought the building from Cave-In-Rock and gave it to the non-profit group as a tourist draw.
While some on the committee want to hold shows more frequently than once a month, that goal is too ambitious for the fledgling group.
“Some want to have one every weekend, but we need some more people involved,” Lewis said.
“We need more entertainment, more on the committee and more volunteers,” treasurer Gladys Douglas said.
The theater seats 200 people and retains the old movie theater’s sound system which the committee is working toward restoring. In the meantime they are relying on a donated PA system.
The theater also still has the old movie projector which works, but wiring work and the know-how to work it is needed to make it operational. The committee isn’t thrilled about the idea of using the opry house for showing movies, anyway, when the live action dramas are drawing 75 to 80 people.
The Riverfront Opry House held a Christmas show involving the comedic “Return of the Bean Family,” a talent show and a variety show.
On April 23 the committee is hosting an Easter Parade at 5 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by an Easter Drama written by Brenna Morris of Eldorado. The parade floats will be decorated in scenes leading up to and including the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
On May 7 the committee will have crafts set up on the street to coincide with a car show organized by Potters Church with golf carts ferrying people from one event to the other. After the craft and car show is a 7 p.m. “Bean Family” comedy show.
At 7 p.m. May 23 there will be another variety show.
At 7 p.m. June 4 the committee plans a “Redneck Style Show” with Tommie Hogfinder showing off his spring line of redneck apparel.
“I still say we need a musical,” Douglas said.
Though the building has needs that will be fixed as the committee raises money or finds volunteers, the stage is ready to receive the performers.
There is a dressing room in the basement and a sound booth behind the stage ready for any group with a performance that needs a venue.
“Anybody can use it. They’ll pay a fee if it’s their own show,” Lewis said.
The committee will also be selling popcorn, soft drinks and candy to raise money, they accept donations and expect to hold raffles, sell Christmas decorations and “whatever we can do to raise money,” Lewis said.
The committee is keeping ticket prices reasonable with kids five and under admitted free.
“We want to give people something to do,” Douglas said.
The first floor is Spinach Can Collectibles & Opera House Antiques. The theater/opera house was on the second floor which has been converted into apartments.
After occupying the old Oregon Theatre building for many years, Bob’s TV & Appliance has vacated the building. The building is now vacant and “for sale.” See the new photo I uploaded.
After occupying the old Polo Theatre building for many years, Charley’s True Value Hardware has vacated the building. See the two new photos I uploaded.
The Ritz Theatre has been demolished. Just uploaded a before/after photo from 2009 and 2021. The top image shows the theater sitting vacant along with The Finish Line Sports Bar to its right. The bottom image shows that The Finish Line has replaced the Ritz with a new structure.
The Scenic Theatre has been demolished along with the building to its right. They were replaced by a new building that houses Kemp’s Upper Tap. Google is still showing a street view from September 2009 that shows the old buildings.
The vertical sign and marquee have been removed from the old Cozy Theater. This must have happened fairly recently. If you didn’t know this building was a theater in its previous life, you would never guess it now. Google still shows the building as it previously looked… at least for now.
The actual address for the Barge Theater is 302 N. Main Street, Seneca, IL.
Recently visited Venice and went into this theater/grocery store. It is absolutely the most gorgeous grocery store I’ve ever seen. I’ve uploaded a few photos of the interior in the photo section.
The Tazewell Theatre building is now Holland’s Caramelcorn.
Stone Real Estate listing for The Mayne Stage with some nice photos can be seen here.
The Mighty Harvest Ministries (175 N. Lincoln Blvd. West) is currently located in the old State Theatre.
This building has been demolished. It is now a vacant lot.
Part of this building is currently a Masonic Lodge (Polk Lodge #137).
As of 2011, the building was called the Riverfront Opry House. It is listed at 143 Main Street, Cave-in-Rock, IL with 200 seats.
Here’s an article from the Harrisburg Register dated April 22, 2011.
Riverfront Opry House returns live drama to Cave-In-Rock stage
Brian DeNeal updated: 4/22/2011 9:19 PM
Cave-In-Rock’s Riverfront Opry House has come back to life.
The one-time movie theater in operation during the 1950s has hosted a smattering of events since it last showed movies, but the Riverfront Opry House Restoration Committee is hoping to bring community theater to area residents once a month.
The committee’s president Shirley Lewis and her husband, Lonnie, owners of the Cave-In-Rock Ferry, bought the building from Cave-In-Rock and gave it to the non-profit group as a tourist draw.
While some on the committee want to hold shows more frequently than once a month, that goal is too ambitious for the fledgling group.
“Some want to have one every weekend, but we need some more people involved,” Lewis said.
“We need more entertainment, more on the committee and more volunteers,” treasurer Gladys Douglas said.
The theater seats 200 people and retains the old movie theater’s sound system which the committee is working toward restoring. In the meantime they are relying on a donated PA system.
The theater also still has the old movie projector which works, but wiring work and the know-how to work it is needed to make it operational. The committee isn’t thrilled about the idea of using the opry house for showing movies, anyway, when the live action dramas are drawing 75 to 80 people.
The Riverfront Opry House held a Christmas show involving the comedic “Return of the Bean Family,” a talent show and a variety show.
On April 23 the committee is hosting an Easter Parade at 5 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by an Easter Drama written by Brenna Morris of Eldorado. The parade floats will be decorated in scenes leading up to and including the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
On May 7 the committee will have crafts set up on the street to coincide with a car show organized by Potters Church with golf carts ferrying people from one event to the other. After the craft and car show is a 7 p.m. “Bean Family” comedy show.
At 7 p.m. May 23 there will be another variety show.
At 7 p.m. June 4 the committee plans a “Redneck Style Show” with Tommie Hogfinder showing off his spring line of redneck apparel.
“I still say we need a musical,” Douglas said.
Though the building has needs that will be fixed as the committee raises money or finds volunteers, the stage is ready to receive the performers.
There is a dressing room in the basement and a sound booth behind the stage ready for any group with a performance that needs a venue.
“Anybody can use it. They’ll pay a fee if it’s their own show,” Lewis said.
The committee will also be selling popcorn, soft drinks and candy to raise money, they accept donations and expect to hold raffles, sell Christmas decorations and “whatever we can do to raise money,” Lewis said.
The committee is keeping ticket prices reasonable with kids five and under admitted free.
“We want to give people something to do,” Douglas said.
There is a vacant lot where this building once stood.
The first floor is Spinach Can Collectibles & Opera House Antiques. The theater/opera house was on the second floor which has been converted into apartments.
After occupying the old Oregon Theatre building for many years, Bob’s TV & Appliance has vacated the building. The building is now vacant and “for sale.” See the new photo I uploaded.
After occupying the old Polo Theatre building for many years, Charley’s True Value Hardware has vacated the building. See the two new photos I uploaded.
The building has been cleaned up and is now a museum. Just uploaded three new photos.
The Campus 4 Cinemas were demolished in October 2020. Here’s an article about the demolition in the Northern Star.
The Ritz Theatre has been demolished. Just uploaded a before/after photo from 2009 and 2021. The top image shows the theater sitting vacant along with The Finish Line Sports Bar to its right. The bottom image shows that The Finish Line has replaced the Ritz with a new structure.
This building has been demolished. It is now a vacant lot.
The Scenic Theatre has been demolished along with the building to its right. They were replaced by a new building that houses Kemp’s Upper Tap. Google is still showing a street view from September 2009 that shows the old buildings.
This is not the Warrington Opera House/Warrington Theater. This is the Playhouse on South Boulevard and is functioning as a restaurant today.
The Town Theatrer building was demolished in late 2019 or early 2020.
Here’s a link to a Landmarks Illinois 2018 Most Endangered Historic Places report.
The old theater is now the Tracy Anderson Group Classes Cafe. A photo taken on August 14, 2017 has been added.
The West Cinema building has a new owner. The Register Mail article dated April 14, 2017 is here.
The vertical sign and marquee have been removed from the old Cozy Theater. This must have happened fairly recently. If you didn’t know this building was a theater in its previous life, you would never guess it now. Google still shows the building as it previously looked… at least for now.
The address for the old Coliseum Theatre (now IGA) is 322 W. Front Street, Annawan, Illinois. 516 W. Front Street is a residential area.
This theater is now closed (see my photos taken earlier this month).