Roxy Theatre
419 S. Fifth Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
419 S. Fifth Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
1 person
favorited this theater
Originally opened in 1907 on Springfield’s Fifth Street, which later became its “Theatre Row”, the Majestic was built for legitimate theater.
In 1914, it became a vaudeville house, and in the late 1920’s, switched to movies.
In the 1930’s, it received a new name, the Roxy, and a new look. In the early 1940’s it is listed as being operated by the Frisina Amusement Co.
The Roxy continued on as a movie theater until its closure in 1978. After more than seven decades of entertaining the citizens of Illinois' capital city it was demolished in 1979.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
lostmemory;
That is the correct Majestic Theatre, when it was re-modelled as the Roxy Theatre the seating capacity stated in Film Daily Yearbooks is given as 1,100.
Thanks Ken. I wasn’t sure if it was the same Majestic theater because the opening date in the description above is much different than the one in the articles that I found.
lostmemory;
I am not sure where Bryan Kreft got the 1884 opening date from in the opening description. The THSA Marquee magazine Vol 7 #2 has an article on Springfield IL theatres which states the Majestic Theatre was built in 1906 as a ‘legit’ theatre. So the May 1907 opening date you have sounds about right. In 1914 it went over to vaudeville and played the Orpheum Circuit bookings until the new Orpheum Theatre opened in April 1927. Then re-modelled as the Roxy Theatre in the 1930’s.
I see that this theatre is listed as ‘closed’ so is it still standing and is there any restoration group interested in restoring it?
HOUDINI played here Feb 7-9th 1924.
Escapologist: What does that word mean? Does it have anything to do with magic and the type of escape magic Houdini pulled off? Harry Houdini was a BIG name to appear in Springfield Illinois!
A Kimball theater organ size 2/4 was installed in the Roxy Theater in 1927.
The Frisina Amusements Company chain had its corporate offices in the Roxy Theatre building in the 40s and 50s.
The year given for this photo is 1974. Same year for this photo.
The Roxy Theatre was remodeled by Frisina Amusement Co. in 1950 with seating being reduced to 1000.