Lorraine Theatre

CORRECTIONS TO THE LORRAINE THEATRE

The Lorraine theater is a single screen theater built in 1922 and remodeled in an Art Deco Style 1937 when sound was added. A second theater was built down the street called Lorraine II in 1998. The state of the art sound system was added in 1992

This is the current website for the Lorraine Theater in Hoopeston, IL.

Here is a photo of the Lorraine Theater at night.

Lost Memory..When I click on the link for the "current website" it tells me it can't find it. Do you have the correct website?

I don't know why the link doesn't work anymore John. That was the link for the Lorraine Theater. Maybe its a problem with their website. I did find another photo of the Lorraine. You can see that photo here.

Thanks Lost.....very nice pic and also a nice looking theater too.

This theater recently closed down for a couple weeks...because the owner didn't think that any current releases were worth screening! Chicago Tribune story here.

According to the Trib article this theatre has only 500 seats. (The owner reduced the seating capacity for more leg room.)

I read this article. This owner is a selfish guy. Maybe residents of the town might enjoy some of the movies he doesn't like. Yeh, I know, he owns it, he can do what he wants. I hope the people in town let him know what a rotten thing he's doing.

It's still going & they have a Lorraine 2 Theater that used to be a card store just down the street. Some owners from Wisconsin bought it just recently & are planning to keep both the older Lorraine & this one open I believe so everyone come on down to Cornjerker territory & see a movie with Dolby Sound System that rocks your socks off!

It's worth the trip but dont' take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

----a lifetime resident of the area

The new website for the 2 Lorraine theaters is www.lorrainetheaters.com

screen 1 is the original art deco one that is the one pictured above. Screen 2 has comfy seats that give when you sit in them & is very quaint & cosy--probably only about 20 or 30 seats total.

Another great asset to our community of Hoopeston, IL along with the Lorraine Theaters is the Artistic Repertory Theatre group that has no actual building that is owned by the group. They rehearse at The Academy for the Performing Arts ran by a lady who has 30+years experience in drama, ballet, tap, jazz, & other types of dances (she worked with Donny Osmond in "Joseph & the Amazing Technocolor Dreamcoat" in Chicago, IL a while ago) and by her mother who's a voice & piano teacher.

This summer they're putting on Rogers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma", Bob Fosse's "Pippin" & "The Wizard of Oz" at the Hoopeston Civic Center which is air conditioned. here's the website if you want to check it out:

www.artisticrepertorytheatre.org

I was hired to count movie patrons at the Lorraine Theatre on this past friday and Saturday, and it was like walking back into my childhood(I'm 55 now), this place brought back such good memories. Even though I grew up in Kansas City, it's still the same feelings.
I really enjoyed the time I spent there. The only thing better than the Theatre itself, were the people who work there! Thanks to you all!!

A Geneva theater organ size 3/8 was installed in the Lorraine Theater in 1925.

theate rfor sale ...looks like a gem

is the theater staying open while they look for a new buyer?

Here is a B&W photo:
http://tinyurl.com/2j5pfj

This is a circa 1922 postcard view of the Lorraine Theater and here is a view of the lobby.

Can someone please tell me how to get in touch with Bob Meza, the photographer who took the photo of this theater and apparently many other theaters? I saw a post with someone using the name BobMeza, if this is you, please e-mail me at rick@landersmiller.com, I would like to talk to you about your photography. Thank you.

Here is a 2008 photo of the Lorraine Theater.

Last October, the Lorraine got new owners! Finally, someone who lives in the same town as this historic gem and can manage it closely. Here is an interview with the new owner on Smilepolitely.com: http://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/hoopeston_ill._gets_new_owner_for_historic_movie_theater/

The old seats have nearly been replaced in the auditorium with luxurious new ones, and the owners are repainting all of the interior with a green and gold theme. It feels like the Emerald City when you walk inside... in a good way!

This was the Lorraine in 1985.

Just an update on this great spot. Both auditoriums have the all new high back flip up armrest luxury chairs, and the aisles are 5 feet wide! No squirming in your seat when someone wants to walk by. Ticket prices are still lower than any other new movie theatre anywhere in the area, and they have an SDDS 8 Channel Digital Surround Sound system that just awesome.

Tons of parking, restaurants right down the block, lowest prices, and all that legroom, well worth a visit.

This is the new site and has some brilliant photos of the place, recent one!

www.cinemajesticltd.com

CineMajestic's Lorraine Cinema Celebrates Anniversary with GONE WITH THE WIND


Hoopeston, IL - CineMajestic LLC, the region's leader for State-of-the-Art sound with first run films and the most comfortable theatres is celebrating it's first full year of operation of the Historic Lorraine Cinema with the presentation of the the cinematographic David O. Selznick classic, Gone With the Wind, starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh on Friday October 2nd through Sunday October 4th.


"We'll have the exclusive national play of Gone With the Wind and I'm very excited to finally see this classic" stated Joshua Caudle, owner of the Historic Lorraine Cinema. "I actually have never seen it because it just seemed a waste to see it on TV or even just at home. Now I can say it was the smart thing to do because I'll see the new print the right way, and I've already got a lot of people coming to town to get this treat too. And its a great way to showcase all the work we've done on the Lorraine in the last year as the hands down most comfortable place to see a movie anywhere in the area. We're really expecting this to be well received and that our community is proud of the gem they have at the Lorraine."


The Lorraine Cinema was originally opened as a live house in 1922 and features a full balcony, stage for live events, and classic Art Deco decor historic artwork throughout. Last year, all new seating was installed with an industry leading five foot wide spacing between rows of seats to maximize comfort and eliminate any visual obstruction for films.


Warner Brothers is sending one of the newest select prints, which has been remastered with pristine picture and modern full Digital Sound, including the elite 8 Channel SDDS Sound featured at the Lorraine, so the experience is anticipated to be first rate.


"We're celebrating a great first year of being here" explains John Pauley, Manager of the Lorraine Cinema. "Gone With the Wind hasn't been seen by most on the big screen, and with the brand new seats, the five foot wide aisles, killer sound and the lowest prices on tickets and snacks, we know we really have the best theatre and we want everyone to come and see that too."


Gone With the Wind will be presented on Friday October 2nd at 715pm, Saturday October 3rd at 2pm and 715pm, and Sunday October 4th at 2pm. Tickets are a flat $5.00 each and on sale now at the Lorraine Cinema Box Office. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.

I always wanted to go to this gem; now's a good reason.

(As yahoo maps would say, go to Route 25, make a left, 826 miles, theater is on your right...)

Here is a nice 2009 photo.

Recent photo of the Lorraine Theatre.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/4090929263/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Here's another one of my recent pictures of the Lorraine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/4091693980/sizes/o/