Madison Theatre
107 NE Madison Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
107 NE Madison Avenue,
Peoria,
IL
61602
6 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 37 comments
This venue’s 70mm presentations history is included in the recently-published article “70mm Presentations in Peoria: A Chronology of 70mm Large Format Exhibition, 1976-Present”.
JANUARY 2022 UPDATE JANUARY 2022 UPDATE JANUARY 2022 UPDATE
Exciting News, in case Anyone hasn’t already heard about It. * (See the Following Peoria News website Links) ….
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/nick-in-the-morning/2022/01/26/preservation-group-takes-control-peorias-historic-madison-theater/9212780002/
https://www.hoiabc.com/2022/01/27/madison-theatre-deck-become-new-hub-downtown-peoria-entertainment/
https://www.week.com/2022/01/27/group-looks-restore-peorias-madison-theatre-former-glory/
https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/madison-theatre-donated-to-preservation-association-by-owner/
Stay Tuned!
Re-opening update ! ! ! ! ! https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/top-stories/peorias-madison-theater-may-open-its-doors-again-after-nearly-two-decade-closure/?fbclid=IwAR045wpXAWB2OEn3Yl-nN-A-jz6RQ_0EVqryEtLNyySxaCu2aMKSSCfiwPk
Regarding photo posted by Mark 8/19/13, Per the Local History Collection : Peoria Public Library.
The Warner Brothers 1936 movie “Earthworm Tractors” had a worldwide premiere at the Madison Theater in downtown Peoria, Illinois on July 24th 1936. The movie was based upon the Caterpillar Track Type Tractor and Caterpillar employees who built and sold the tractors.
Elegant and lovely vintage theatre. Color choice was wonderful. Hope it is restored again and in use again too.
Seven images added to Photos Section courtesy of the Peoria Public Library.
I saw the house of wax in 3d back in 1953. Just bought it for tv but can’t get buttercup
Here’s a link to a great, eight minute video on Conrad Schmitt Studios. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39zxhmQJxUU
Speaking on artisans who could properly restore the Madison to opening day (1921) condition: as of 2013 two firms with histories predating the golden age of movie palace’s still exsist today. 1. Conrad Schmitt of New Berlin, WI was founded in 1889 and has been an industry leader as first, a decorating company during the architectural boom of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s and second, as a leader in the restoration of many of those same properties decades later. Conrad Schmitt also has the most theater/auditorium retorations under their belt, numbering in the hundreds. Their history and portfolio can be found at conradschmitt.com. 2. Rambusch Studios, of New York, NY was founded in 1898 and has a long and venerable project/client list mirroring that of Conrad Schmitt. They can be found at rambusch.com.
Evergreene Architectural Arts also of New York, NY was founded in 1978 and quickly became a leader in the revitalizing of historic art and architecture. Evergreene is the first choice among several prominent historic preservationist architectural firms. They can be found at evergreene.com.
I recently photographed the Madison Theater check out the post at After the Final Curtain
I’m surprised that neither theatre was kept secure. Looking forward to seeing photos of the Rialto as I never visited it. I agree with you about “Star Trek 1”; it was not a good film (“Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan” was much better).
i will add ..we actually only pulled the alley doors open they were not locked at either theater…the only time us poor kids ever snuck in free at the rialto we got caught in 5 minutes…we didnt do any damage to either theater as well…i signed the 1980 petition to save the palace..but to no avail..shame.. there are so many empty lots downtown that the towrs could of been built on instead. just here cause im trying to find a pic of the rialto with star wars on the marquee
Winchurch…. i broke into the madison theater around febuary of 1980. me and a friend snuck into the madison[ many times] via the fire escape in the ally that led to the closed balcony. the movie that was playing was star trek 1..but we just snuck in to watch the trailer for empire strikes back , the trek movie was poor. we did end up staying until everyone left after closing..got bags of popcorn..and oddly enough also broke into the palace that night..maybe we got the popcorn there..we were only 16 or so..it was fun..last movie we saw at madison was blade runner.
New facebook page dedicated to Peoria’s palaces: http://www.facebook.com/#!/PEORIASPICTUREPALACES
Hmm; thanks!
The NR doesn’t restrict anything. Only if it was a tax credit funded rehabilitation
The Majestic Theatre in Kankakee, IL has been renovated and has re-opened as a conference center. Photos from their webpage: http://www.k3majestictheatre.com show it to have been in poor condition. The Madison has National Register of Historic Places status, however, so that may affect the type and scope of renovations that can be done to it.
I agree. It would be challenging to find people to do the artisan renovations, but they are out there if they worked or work on the Chicago Theatre, Oriental/Ford Theatre for the Performing Arts and Rialto Square Theatre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RnlSnXqkFc Here’s that video. I don’t see too much water damage really. It would take some money to reopen but it could be much worse.
This is a link to what I found in the Peoria Journal Star: http://www.pjstar.com/news/x484739208/Future-of-historic-Madison-Theater-uncertain?zc_p=0. I did watch the You Tube video. My salute to the chutzpah of the videographer and canine friend! I have visited four theatres in the Chicago Metro area which have found investors: the Auditorium Theatre; The Chicago Theatre; the Oriental/Ford Center for the Performing Arts; and the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, IL, all of which have fallen into extreme disrepair and which have been renovated. I was in the Chicago Theatre before it was renovated and it was in similar shape to what was shown on the You Tube video. I hope someday to be able to revisit the Madison Theatre. Note: as you know – but others may not – it does have a Facebook page.
I managed the Madison Theatre from 1976 to 1983 when the independent operator who took it over in December, 1982 failed. loved the Madison,but I had to watch it go from being the A house for our company to becoming the ignored house. What I recently saw on You Tube scared me. What has happened to the Madison?
I managed the Madison Theatre from 1976 to 1983 when the independent operator who took it over in December, 1982 failed. loved the Madison,but I had to watch it go from being the A house for our company to becoming the ignored house. What I recently saw on You Tube scared me. What has happened to the Madison?
I hope that the City of Peoria finds someone with deep pockets (pretty scarce right now) or a sense of creativity to utilize the site again.
The Madison has been closed since 2003. It is incorrectly listed on this site as open and restored. Neither is true. The theatre is in poor condition and if it does re-open the renovation will take some time. See website below:
www.themadisontheatre.com
I was at a family function not too many years ago (during the horrible bridge reconstruction project on 74 in Peoria) and stayed at the Pere Marquette Hotel. When I had breakfast just before I headed for home I was gazing at a building which looked oddly familiar and which I later realized was one of the sides of the Madison Theater building. It really had been a long time since I’d been in downtown Peoria!
I understand that the Madison has been used theatrically but not for some time. I hope that it becomes a venue once more. If the Oriental Theatre in Chicago can be re-opened, so can the Madison.