Zion Theater
Sheridan Road,
Zion,
IL
60099
Sheridan Road,
Zion,
IL
60099
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The Zion Theater opened in 1913.
Contributed by
Keith Smith
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In 1955 the Zion Theater had 887 seats.
This was in the Chicago Tribune on 5/31/59:
Zion’s only movie theater, which opened in 1948 after a stiff fight against community blue laws, has closed its doors.
The city’s first theater opened in 1913 but was raided by police and ordered closed by the mayor. Most of the blue laws were repealed at a referendum in 1949.
Onnie Bridges, president of the Zion Theater corporation since it was formed, said the closing was dictated by his desire to retire rather than by failing audiences.
Here is an April 1948 article from the Murphysboro (IL) Daily Independent:
ZION, ILL,, April 12â€"The manager of Zion’s only motion picture theater appears before the local justice of the peace today accused of attempting to show a movie on Sunday. Connie Bridges, the manager, was arrested amicably yesterday in a test of the community’s ordinance banning Sunday movies. He had advertised that he would run the motion picture, ‘I Walk Alone,’ yesterday afternoon to test the law.
Bridges was arrested as the doors opened on a warrant issued on the complaint of Mayor Richard. Justice of the Peace Lester Koelz continued hearing of the charge until today and Bridges was released on $100 bond. Al Eric Carey, Zion City Attorney, said he believed, the case would eventually reach the State Supreme Court. Carey said he believed both parties would only be satisfied with an interpretation by the high court.
Motion pictures have been shown only weekdays in Zion since New Years day this year. At that time, the Zion theater opened. The theater, the first in the town, was opened after more than 2,000 of the community’s 3,000 residents signed a petition asking the city council to permit the showing of movies. The ordinance then passed by the council specifically banned Sunday movies and provided that all pictures shown should be subject to “proper censorship.”
The Justice of Peace also will hear charges today against Otto Lawrence, owner of Zion’s only bowling alley. He was arrested for violating another ordinance which prohibits bowling on Sundays. Like Bridges he attempted to open his establishment esterday. “Apparently Lawrence and Bridges are collaborating to test both ordinances,” Carey said.
Blue Laws of Zion Will Be Tested in Courts of Illinois -
Legality of Bans on Sunday Movies and Bowling Will Be Issue
Zion, Ill., April 12, 1948â€" (AP) â€" The manager of Zion’s only motion picture theater appears before the local justice of the peace today accused of attempting to show a movie on Sunday. Onnie Bridges, the manager, was arrested amicably yesterday in a test of the community’s ordinance banning Sunday movies. He had advertised that he would run the motion picture. “I Walk Alone”, yesterday afternoon to test the law. Bridges was arrested as the doors opened on a warrant issued on the complaint of Mayor Richard Hire.
Justice of the Peace Lester Koetz continued hearing of the charge until today and Bridges was released on $100 bond. Al Eric Carey, Zion city attorney, said he believed the case would eventually reach the state Supreme court. Carey said he believed both parties would only be satisfied with an interpretation by the high courts.
Motion pictures have been shown only weekdays in Zion since New Year’s day this year. At that time, the Zion theater opened. The theater, the first in the town, was opened after more than 2,000 of the community’s residents signed a petition asking the city council to permit the showing of movies.
The ordinance then passed by the council specificially banned Sunday movies and provided that all pictures shown should be subject to “proper censorship”.
City Gets Sunday Movies After Vote
ZION, Ill., April 11 1949 â€" (AP)â€" For the first time in 48 years, Zion’s citizens tomorrow will be able to see a Sunday movie in their home town.
Sabbath Blue Laws, in effect since the city was founded as a headquarters for the Christian Catholic Church 48 years ago, were wiped out in a Zion election last Tuesday.
The laws had prohibited operation of business establishments on Sunday.
Last year Onnie Bridges, operator of the community’s lone theater, staged a test of the laws by announcing he would open on Sunday â€" but before any tickets were sold, he was arrested and a Zion Court later upheld the city ordinance.
Tomorrow’s film will be “You Gotta Stay Happy.”