Illini Theater
51-53 Main Street,
Champaign,
IL
61820
51-53 Main Street,
Champaign,
IL
61820
1 person
favorited this theater
Showing all 11 comments
This interesting video tells the history and shows rare photos of the Illini Theatre;
View link
Interesting photos.
I remember passing that sad little theater a few times in the 70s when I was in
grad school at the Uof I. Funny, in a year and a half, I only made it to downtown
Champaign two or three times.
Ken MC – thanks for the photo. Looking at those cars though, I’d say that one
was taken in the 50s, not the 60s.
2007 close up photo of the entrance as the Highdive.
View link
Interesting b&w shot from the fifties:
http://tinyurl.com/yaeecz6
October 2009 photo of the Illini Theatre.
View link
Here are two 1983 photos:
Photo1
Photo2
Here is a photo circa 1960s:
http://tinyurl.com/cqhybk
Their website has some good virtual tours of the various interior spaces. The original ornate pressed-tin ceiling is still intact. It was a fairly long and narrow theater. The triangular marquee is still there, redecorated. The rest of the original decorations are all gone, all new elements and some bare brick. It’s quite a fancy place now.
Here is a website for the Highdive bar.
This is a recent photo of the Highdive bar located in this former theater.
This is now a bar and very popular venue called the High Dive, with a bar and seating area in the west half of the building and the stage and dancing area in the east.