Southtown Theatre
1106 S. Grand Avenue East,
Springfield,
IL
62703
1106 S. Grand Avenue East,
Springfield,
IL
62703
4 people
favorited this theater
Opened as the Empress Theatre in 1915, and renamed the Southtown in 1938, this theater closed in 1959 as a movie house. It, however, has been wonderfully maintained, and its gorgeous Streamline Moderne marquee, which still says “Southtown”, now advertises the stained glass studio now housed inside.
Contributed by
Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
I would like to thank Lost Memory for posting the photos of the Southtown Theater. This is something I should have been doing but just don’t have the time, yet. The restoration is finished and it looks great. If you happen to visit Springfield, Illinois look us up and see the marquee lit up. It is on from dark to 1 AM everyday. If anyone is interested in owning this building email me.
marquee relighting 2007
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Here is another photo.
This is a nice close-up photo of the Southtown Theater building.
Here is an item from Boxoffice magazine, October 1947:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.-The Springfield-Frisina Theater Co. has purchased the Southtown Theater building from the Springfield Marine Bank for $35,000. The Frisina Amusement Co. has been operating the Southtown, a 300-seater, in conjunction with Leo Burnstine for a number of years. Mrs. Harry Burnstine manages the theater.
1982 Photo
1984 Photo
Another photo is here.
Very nice job of restoring the marquee and front of building.
2009 photo of the verticle and marquee.
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Another 2008 photo of the Southtown Theatre.
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