Will Rogers Theatre
705-715 Monroe Avenue,
Charleston,
IL
61920
705-715 Monroe Avenue,
Charleston,
IL
61920
5 people
favorited this theater
The Will Rogers Theatre was opened in 1938, with 1,000 seats in its single auditorium. It was later twinned and was closed in 2010.
The theatre was placed on the Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Contributed by
Ange Albsmeyer
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
I was told i am a very distant relative.
This theater has been closed by AMC: View link
My uncle lives in this town but I don’t know if he ever went to this theater.
I was shocked when I read today that the Will Rogers Theater had been closed by AMC. AMC seems to have been busy closing several theaters that they had bought from Kerasotes. I wonder how long it will be before the AMC Paris Theater, Paris, Illinois is closed by AMC for the same reason it has closed other theaters. At one time the former owner of the Star Dust Drive-In Theater at Charleston, Illinois try to buy the Will Rogers theater from Kerasotes. Charleston being a college town, I wouldn’t be surprise some else will try to reopen the Will Rogers Theater, unless AMC has it in writing it can’t be used as a movie theater when sold.
It seems odd, theater that Kerasotes operted for years was making money. AMC buys the theaters then closes them.
When it was divided, did they go left and right or front and back?
Or orchestra/balcony?
That’s too bad. It was a really nice-looking room.
I talked to a person who lives at Charleston today. She told me she stop going to the Will Rogers, though she lives close to the theater. As many of the seats were broken, sound was poor quality. The theater wasn’t in good shape. I don’t know if it was Kerasotes or it was AMC decision to let this theater become in bad shape. Causing the theater to lose customers. This use to be a great theater, with quality sound & seats in great shape. It’s sad that this great theater was let to get in this condition. I hope some person or group will save this theater & do the repairs needed to bring this theater back to the great theater it was.
Named recently to a list of the most endangered historical sites in Illinois: View link.
Some additional information about the designation with pictures: View link.