Canna Theatre
110 E. Chestnut Street,
Gillespie,
IL
62033
110 E. Chestnut Street,
Gillespie,
IL
62033
2 people
favorited this theater
First opened on June 6, 1928 as the New Pert Theatre with a seating capacity of 603. From September 1930 it was remodeled by the Frisnia Amusement Co. and was known as the Lyric Theatre.
Frisnia closed the Lyric in 1953 and it remained dark until it re-opened as the Canna Theatre on October 18, 1956 with Joan Crawford in “Autumn Leaves”. It was then operated by the Canna Anna civic organisation.
In recent years it reverted back to the name Lyric. The theater was donated to the city of Gillespie in 2003 and has been renovated for use as a concert hall.
In 2007 it was leased by a new management and the name reverted back to Canna Theatre, screening first-run movies. Opening on May 18, 2007 with “Shrek the Third”.
Contributed by
Bryan, Ken Roe
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Listed in Film Daily Yearbok’s that I have (1941-1950) as the Lyric Theatre.
Now a venue for punk rock music. Capacity is listed as 252 people.
http://www.stlpunk.com/venue.asp?venueID=1255
I’m from Gillespie and I have a photo of the theater back in the ‘40s when the old Gillespie city hall sat on the corner. The photo is actually of the city hall, but you can see the Lyric three doors down.
I’ve never known there to be a punk show or any other concert at this location. If it happens, it’s extremely rare.
Today it is used for community theater and the high shool will put on a musical there occasionally.
If threefarmers could please contact this website again or email me at i would greatly appreciate it. I am a member of the Lyric players the group that runs the Theatre.
The seating capacity for the Lyric Theatre in the 1950 edition of Film Daily Yearbook is given as 603.
The Eisentraut family of Hillsboro has leased the theatre from the city of Gillespie and it is once again showing movies on the big screen under the name “Canna”. Upgrades to the theatre include leather couch seating, a new sound system, new carpet, tuxedo dressed staff that make personal introductions to every feature. The theatre recently had it’s first sold-out show under new ownership with Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Here is a website for the Canna Theater.
This is an updated link for the Canna Theater website.
The year given for this photo is 2002.
Here are two 1983 photos:
Photo1
Photo2