Albro Theatre

The Colonial opened in 1913, on Market Street, in downtown Urbana. While it was a fairly small theater, the Colonial originally had its own house orchestra. In 1924, Market Street was renamed Broadway Avenue. In the late 20s, stores were built on either side of the Colonial Theatre, a barber shop and a restaurant.

The theater closed in 1931, but was reopened four years later as the Albro, named for the Alger brothers whose LaSalle, Illinois-based movie theater chain owned the theater from that time until it closed. The Albro was remodeled and modernized, now showed sound films, beginning with “Alibi Ike”.

In 1948, the Albro closed, and was converted into offices. Just five years later, the company leasing the former theater moved to a new location, and the building was demolished, replaced by a parking lot.

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