Tivoli Theatre
35 W. Galena Boulevard,
Aurora,
IL
60506
35 W. Galena Boulevard,
Aurora,
IL
60506
1 person
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Opening in 1928, one of Aurora’s larger movie houses after the Paramount Theatre (which was, like the Tivoli Theatre, designed by Rapp & Rapp), the Tivoli Theatre could seat over 1,000. It shared a building with a bowling alley.
The Tivoli Theatre was closed in 1981, and has since been torn down.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
We used to skip out of school and go to the bowling alley downstairs and played pinball. The building that the theater was in also had an upstairs bar that had live music.
I had lots of fond memories of Aurora’s Tivoli Theater. In the late 60s to early 70s the Tivoli was a popular hangout. The inside of the theater looked very close to the Paramount Theater just across the street. The primary color was a deep red or burgundy with some off shades of red. There were some gold trims as well. The enormous crystal chandelier in the auditorium was identical to the one in the Paramount Theater complete with the starburst design painted on the ceiling surrounding it using a burgundy scheme. The Tivoli was a great place to catch a movie and at times live performances. Towards the end of this theaters life around the late 70s the theater was used to show Spanish films and burlesque type show with men in drag. What a sad way to go.
Here are some 1983 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/djepp3
http://tinyurl.com/c6s993
I grew up in Aurora and took this picture while attending a parade:
View link
This is a rather sad picture of the Tivoli, a theatre that I frequented as a kid. This must have been just before it was demolished.
Anyone come aqcross any interior photos, I came into a packet of interior photos of the Tivoli Theatre but it doesn’t give the city, I have looked through most of the Tivoli theatres on CT but no matches.
I have never seen any interior pictures of the Tivoli. I was a kid when I went there so I don’t really remember it very well. My parents seem to remember it a bit. I hope to get to the Aurora Historical Society in the near future with the intentions of finding pictures of the interior of the Tivoli and also the Isle (another downtown Aurora theatre). Chuck, can you scan one of two of your pictures and put them on line? Maybe my parents would recognize them.
I found this nice picture of the Tivoli from back in the good old days:
View link
Was W. Main changed to a different street name, W. Main will not map for Aurora. It comes up Warrenville, Il.
Yes, Main Street was changed to Galena Blvd. I believe this happened in the 1950s.