Paris Theatre
119 N. Central Avenue,
Paris,
IL
61944
119 N. Central Avenue,
Paris,
IL
61944
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Opened in 1924 as the Lincoln Theatre, this movie house sat about 700. It closed in 1967. Four years later, it was taken over by the Kerasotes chain, which renamed it the Paris Theatre. (The first Paris Theatre was built in 1926, and closed in 1957, and was later razed. It, like the Lincoln Theatre, was located on Central Avenue).
In the early-1990’s, Kerasotes had the Paris twinned. It continued to screen first-run features until February 2011, when it was closed by AMC.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 10 comments)
Oh boy, the Paris theatre nestled in a little town known as the Edgar county seat in the heart of the Kikapoo farm country.A nice little town as many others with a town square around a court house.They had concerts in the park and a small fairground.On warm summer nights people would sit on the wall surrounding the courthouse lawn and converse. Mr. Papadokus the local sweet shop merchant pushed his popcorn and peanut wagon around selling his wares.And then there were the two theatres. I left Paris in 1943 to move to Chicago with my mom and brother.I went back to visit relatives many times and always headed for the theatres.I remember the sweet odor walking past them on a summer night that drew you in like a magnet. I am glad to hear that at least one is still operating there in a nice town from a nice era.
Chuckie Z.
This is a recent photo of the Paris Theater. It does stand out from the other buildings. :)
That’s a little much, isn’t it?
I would leave the style as “unknown” for this one. :)
It wouldn’t be too hard to find that theater, just look for the ugliest building on the block.
AMC closed this theater on February 6, 2011: View link
I’m not surprise that AMC closed this theater too. AMC spent huge amount of money on theaters,that they end up closing only a few months after they obtain them. It appears a theater has to be a multiplex for AMC to keep it open. Hopefully some other chain will reopen these theaters that AMC has toss away. Wonder what the grand total is at the moment, for the number of theaters that AMC bought from Kerasotes then closed a few months after operating them ? What theater will be the next one that AMC closes ?
The Justin Scott/AMC standard PR statement that one of their former sites was closed because it “no longer competed effectively in the marketplace” doesn’t exactly hold when the nearest competition is located several miles away.
I clicked on the photo and was suprised at how Atomic Age the place looked; any photos from earlier in its history? Is there some plaster roccoco (sp?) masterpiece hiding behind the shiny chrome?
Hopefully AMC wont sit on the place to long and a theater friendly buyer will emerge.
As a former Parisite it’s sad to hear that the ‘Stinkin’ Lincoln' isn’t operating. In a town of 10,000 with the nearest competition 20ish miles away I’d think an independent owner should be able to make a profitable go of it. No not me, but someone!