Lincoln Theatre
329 S. Fifth Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
329 S. Fifth Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
No one has favorited this theater yet
Along with the former Majestic Theatre (better known as the Roxy Theatre), the Princess Theatre was one of the earlier legitimate theaters opened on Springfield’s Fifth Street, in 1884, the same year as the Majestic Theatre.
Later, like the Majestic Theatre, the Princess Theatre switched to vaudeville, and after that, to movies.
By the 1920’s, it was renamed the Fox Theatre, and in the 1930’s, became the Lincoln Theatre.
When it closed in 1976, the Lincoln Theatre had been screening adult fare for several years.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 9 comments)
Bryan, I have a different address altogether for the Lincoln in Springfield, I have it listed as 1021 E. Washington, is this a different theatre than the one you have listed above?
Charles, yes the Lincoln at 1021 E. Washington existed for a very brief time between about 1913 and 1915. It predated this Lincoln by about 15 years. This theater on Fifth Street wasn’t called the Lincoln until around the 30s, and was the last of its three names (originally the Princess, then the Fox).
On the far left of this photo you can see part of the Lincoln Theatre, move your mouse over the photo and you see a 2006 photo showing the Lincoln has been demolished.
http://springfieldrewind.com/321-27-s-5th-1960s/
A Kilgen theater organ opus 4920 was installed in the Lincoln Theater in 1932. Note: New Console and pedal relay only.
The December 22, 1928, issue of Motion Picture News said that Dominick Fresna had opened the remodeled Princess Theatre at Springfield, Illinois, as the Lincoln Theatre on Thanksgiving Day.
Pictured in 1938 as Fox Lincoln at top left of this page: Boxoffice
does anyone have any pictures of the inside of this theater? i’m interested in the kind of lighting they used.
Considering the history of this theater given above, I’m a bit puzzled by this item from the April 11, 1914, issue of The Moving Picture World:
If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!