Lincoln Square Theatre

See this story from WAND-TV in Decatur for more information on the Lincoln Square's restoration/renovation.

Also, like Decatur's Avon Theatre, the Lincoln Square is reportedly haunted. This site talks a bit about the hauntings as well as gives a detailed history of the theater, including its two fires (1942 and 1960).

The WAND-TV story mentions the comments from the local Republican state representative Bill Mitchell(our governor is currently a Democrat but in 2002 when the grant was approved the governor was a Republican) stating the money would be better spent on schools or firehouses. Few would argue agaisnt a statement that schools and firehouses are a higher priority. What the TV reporter failed to mention is that the monies came from a special state fund that is legally and specifically earmarked for projects like the Lincoln project and not for schools and firehouses. There are other places in the state budget that cover those important structures.

The money was going to be spent so it was decided that Decatur was a better place to spend it than elsewhere in the state, such as Chicago.

You gotta love politics.

The Lincoln Square Theatre was originally a Balaban and Katz theatre. I worked as an usher while in high school (1963) and later became the theatre manager from 1969-1971. At that time it was a part of ABC Great States Theatres, whose main offices were in the Chicago Theatre in Chicago. The Lincoln became a part of Kerasotes Theatres around 1973 or 1974. Theu operated it for just a few years before closing operations. bsmith

A photo of the Lincoln Theater in Decatur can be seen here.

I had the opportunity to work on the web site for local playwright Nick Vlachos who donated proceeds from his play "The Bed" to the reconstruction efforts of the Lincoln Square Theatre. More information about the theatre and its history can be found at: http://www.nikosvlachos.com/theatre.htm

Its ashame that the photo at the top of this page, doesn't in anyway look like the photo that Lost Memory posted. The photo above gives the building some statue. Why would you ever destroy a building like that.

The front of the Lincoln was damaged in the early 1960's when the building next door caught on fire. The upper story of the facade and the lobby were to damaged to fix so the top was removed and the two story front became a one story.

Do restoration plans include rebuilding the entire facade which would bring back its 2nd story? Anything less is not a restoration in my opinion. The photo on top of this thread is what I hope the theater will look like once the theater is restored. Please let me know.

New Article about the restoration of the theater from the Herald & Review today. Here is the link:
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/06/26/news/local_news/1016053.txt

Nice picture of the "teaser"that they are doing.

This is a 9/23/2005 article about the Lincoln Square Theater.

"Theater renovation to boost Decatur, Ill.

Source: Herald & Review
Byline: Mike Frazier

Sep. 23--DECATUR -- Local laborers will play a key role in restoring Lincoln Square Theatre to its former glory.

Christy Foltz Inc. of Decatur will serve as general contractor for restoration work in upcoming months, theater board president Carla Brinkoetter announced Thursday.

Community leaders joined Brinkoetter at the theater Thursday evening to celebrate the restoration of the 88-year-old building.

The news conference comes just weeks after the release of the second half of a $3.5 million state grant to restore the theater.

"The Lincoln Square Theatre board has always been emphatic that as much of this grant money as possible is spent right here in Macon County," Brinkoetter said. "We are proud that this money will be used to provide work for local residents, and we are pleased that those highly skilled workers will come from our local labor unions."

State Rep. Bob Flider, D-Mount Zion, credited his predecessor, former state Rep. Julie Curry, and state House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, for helping to secure grant funds.

Collaborative work by community members also played a key role, Flider said.

"This kind of unity in the community is the kind we all hope for and hope to see in the future," Flider said.

Mayor Paul Osborne said the Lincoln Theatre is a treasure of downtown Decatur.

"We want to make downtown a destination," Osborne said. "And a big destination for downtown is the Lincoln Theatre."

The $3.5 million in state funds bring fund-raising efforts to about the halfway point, Brinkoetter said. She is hopeful that local donors will help in the effort to restore the historic theater.

Work soon to be undertaken will include restoring the theater's arch, presidential box, chandeliers and lobby. The addition of fire escapes and other safety upgrades will allow the balcony to be reopened.

More restoration work will be undertaken as funds are received. The theater could be reopened next year".

he first part of the renovation has been completed and the city of Decatur has given the theatre's not-for-profit corporation its blessing to reopen.
Much infrastructure work has been accomplished. New HVAC systems were installed and new bathrooms put in, including a handicapped accessible restroom on the main floor middle lobby. Dressing rooms and a new green room were built under the stage.
Evergreen Studios has done extensive work in the newly restored middle lobby as well as in the back lobby and in the auditorium, where the prescenium arch and one of fronts of the mezzanone box seas were repainted to match original colors.
There is much left to do in the next phase of the restortion.

Here is another website that talks about the Lincoln Theater being haunted.

This is a recent photo of the Lincoln Theater.

Will the next phase of restoration include the rebuilding of the 2nd-story facade, and a replacement for those lackluster aluminum storm doors?

A Barton theater organ was installed in a Lincoln Theater in Decatur, IL in 1924. Note: Twin Consoles.

The Lincoln Square Theatre has an all-new website. The site was launched today, October 15th, 2007, and it has loads of info on the history and renovation of the theatre, as well as photo galleries of notable performances and the progress of the restoration efforts.

You can visit us at http://www.lincolnsquaretheatre.com

Stop by and let us know what you think!

Here is a photo of the marquee.

Some interior photos can be seen here.

I recently acquired a 1932 herald announcing the formation of the Mickey Mouse Club at the Publix Lincoln Theatre in Decatur. The herald is 2 doublesided pages and contains a facsimile of the memberhip card and an example of one of the club pins.

Is the Publix Lincoln the same theatre as this one? What does the Publix stand for? Were they a chain? Usually the MM Clubs were organized at Fox theaters. Thanks much. David

vintagedisneymemorabilia.blogspot.com

Publix refers to one of the midwest's largest chains: Paramount Publix/Balaban & Katz/Great States Theatres. The Chicago theatres were known as B & K houses, and downstate Publix Great States. They were also affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company, and at one point were ABPT Theatres (American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres). Originally part of the Paramount chain, they were divorced by the consent decrees of the late '40's and early '50's. Eventually, Henry Plitt who worked with Leonard Goldenson at ABC as an executive with the chain's Southern theatres took over the chain and they became Plitt Theatres. As noted above, when the Plitt circuit disolved, Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield, IL. acquired many of the downstate Publix Great States sites including this one. Fox didn't have a major presence in the Midwest as they had in other states, so the Lincoln Square would have been a likely site for a Mickey Mouse club.

The ties between Paramount/ABC the theatres were so involved that in Chicago the ABC affiliate was located in the B & K State Lake Theatre building(and now occupies the space the theatre itself had) and had the call letters WBKB for Balaban & Katz Broadcasting.

Growing up in a small downstate Illinois town which had a Publix Great States Theatre and an independent house, even after the consent decree, I don't remember the independent ever playing a Paramount picture. On the other hand, it had an arrangement with Warners Bros. for picture exclusivity, and until it burned in the '60's I never saw a Warner logo on the screen at the Publix house.

A view of the Lincoln Theater in Decatur while it was closed and for sale can be seen here and here.

This is a November 2008 photo.

This theatre was featured on "Most Terrifying Places in America" on the Travel Channel Friday evening (12/19). Apparently it has a reputation for being haunted. The balcony and a spiral stairway backstage are particularly active. The theatre is built on the site of a hotel that had burned down, claiming a number of lives.

Here are photos from 1982 and 1984:
http://tinyurl.com/cgj7wl
http://tinyurl.com/dmcfol

Photo of the Lincoln Square Theatre. Click the photo for a larger view.

http://www.agilitynut.com/08/11/lincolnth.jpg

Nice pitcure Chuck1231.