Will Rogers Theatre

CSWalczak on April 6, 2011 at 11:49 am

Some additional information about the designation with pictures: View link.

soybean on December 28, 2010 at 3:24 pm

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.

saps on December 8, 2010 at 10:12 am

Or orchestra/balcony?

soybean on November 30, 2010 at 12:43 pm

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.

CSWalczak on November 29, 2010 at 3:23 pm

This theater has been closed by AMC: View link

rkloker on August 10, 2010 at 7:40 pm

Thanks to those providing photos. I grew up in a town about 15 miles from Charleston, during the 1960’s and 70’s, and went to many movies at the Will Rogers Theatre. I did not know that it is on the National Register of Historic Places, and am very glad to learn that it is. It is certainly a beautiful example of Art Deco style, and those aspects appear to be well-preserved. My grandfather had worked very briefly with Rogers, and I grew up keenly aware of how beloved by many, Rogers was. I would always stop and look at the large photo of him in the lobby (although I remember the photo being larger, from floor to ceiling—-I hope this is not an example of always remembering childhood things as being larger than they are actually are!). Anyway, thank you for bringing back some good memories.

Chuck1231 on April 16, 2010 at 1:16 pm

2009 photos of the Will Rogers Theatre.
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lostmemory on May 15, 2009 at 10:23 am

Here are more 1983 photos including some of the interior:

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lostmemory on August 8, 2007 at 7:39 pm

Here is another recent photo of the Will Rogers Theater.

lostmemory on October 27, 2006 at 7:00 am

This is a recent photo of the Will Rogers Theater.

lostmemory on March 30, 2005 at 6:22 am

This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 1/12/1984. The report and some 1983 photos are here:
View link

robkincade on January 1, 2004 at 10:15 am

The Will Rogers in Charleston is open but has been divided into two screens. It shows mostly movies that are just about at the end of their run, although it does show some newer movies if the local multiplex is extending popular films. The lobby, once grand for a small town, needs work. The outside is classic art deco movie palace. The local arts council is planning a film festival in September ‘04 to honor local-boy-made-good Gregg Toland, the cinemetographer for Citizen Kane. For info, check with www.charlestontourism.com Probably no info yet, but keep checking.