Madison Theatre

I hope that the City of Peoria finds someone with deep pockets (pretty scarce right now) or a sense of creativity to utilize the site again.

I was at a family function not too many years ago (during the horrible bridge reconstruction project on 74 in Peoria) and stayed at the Pere Marquette Hotel. When I had breakfast just before I headed for home I was gazing at a building which looked oddly familiar and which I later realized was one of the sides of the Madison Theater building. It really had been a long time since I’d been in downtown Peoria!

I understand that the Madison has been used theatrically but not for some time. I hope that it becomes a venue once more. If the Oriental Theatre in Chicago can be re-opened, so can the Madison.

My grandparents lived in Peoria, IL which was a first-run theatre town. Thus we were able to see films well ahead of their release in our town at the Palace and the Madison Theatres. At this point my memory is fuzzy separating the two but I do remember the wide sight lines, excellent projection, air conditioning (all-important during hot Peoria summers) and sound, and lovely lobbies. The years when I visited the two theatres were approximately 1961-1975.

Here’s a photo circa 1925

Here is the National Register of Historic Places nomination form for the Madison Theater.

Another website for the Madison Theater:

View link

Here is a 1985 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/db4kbs

Here is the National Register of Historic Places information, although the address given is different than the one above. This building must have multiple addresses.

Madison Theatre (added 1980 – Building – #80001402)
502 Main St., Peoria

Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Harbers,Fred, Sons Builders, Klein,Frederic J.
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Theater
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Theater

Go to www.JackFritscher.com and, using the SEARCH feature, type in “Madison Theater” for an historical reference to the Madison Theater in Peoria, Illinois.

A Hinners theater organ was installed in the Madison Theater in 1920.

While this theater still hosts an occasional event, it’s a shadow of it’s former self. The original Main St. entrance as well as 2/3 of the entrance hall/concession area have been sectioned off as a seperate business (bar). My understanding is that it is still equipt to show films but mainly hosts live music. The main floor seating area has had all of it’s original theater seats removed.