Rodgers Theatre
119 W. Vienna Street,
Anna,
IL
62906
119 W. Vienna Street,
Anna,
IL
62906
2 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 31 comments
I was inside of the Rodgers the week it was sold and being ‘renovated’ in 1990. It was in rough shape all around, but I certainly wish it could have been saved as well. (Especially the marquee!) Photos are what we have. I have a book that is being published by Bauer and Dean publishing for spring 2025 entitled: “America’s Hometown Movie Theaters: Please Remain Standing” which will have 3 photos of the Rodgers.
The May 21, 1938, issue of The Film Daily gave the opening date of the Rodgers Theatre as February 17.
The Rodgers Theatre opened in February, 1938, according to the 1954 book 100 Years of Progress: The Centennial History of Anna, Illinois.
Nice pictures Chuck.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/chxy23
“despite attempts to save”…famous last words.
Bought by the Kerasotes chain sometime in the late 1960’s. Kerasotes closed the Rodgers July 31, 1980 on account of slumping business.
As I scrolled down to read the latest post on this theatre I feared what I would read. So very very sad and so today’s youth will continue to go to the malls and multiplexes of their generation.
The theater was finally demolished this past week.
The paper recently said demolition work will start soon on this theater. I just wish that they will save the buildings marquee.
Kurt: I plan to write the Mayor of Anna, Steve Hartline a letter in support of saving the Rodgers Theatre and I hope that many other fellow CT members and especially those who are in the Anna Illinois area will do the same as the Mayor’s address can be found on your June 29, 2005 post. Thank you as your support could possibly make the difference between a bad decision and a good decision.
Kurt: CT only lists 3 Rodgers Theatres and besides the Rodgers in Illinois and the one listed in MO there is one listed in Corning California. Could this one be a Issac Rodgers theatre even though you didn’t include CA as one of the States “between IL, MO, and KY”.
“Isaac Walter Rodgers owned this theatre along with about 5 others spread out between IL, MO, and KY.” Are any of the other Rodgers Theatres still open and have any of them been restored? If so, it might be wise to contact these other theatres and see if they can be of any help in saving and restoring the Rodgers in Anna! BTW, I’m trying to find an email address for the Mayor of Anna!
“Most people here would rather spend more money on the local high school football team than a building of historical and cultural significance.” That is so unfortunate as local football teams come and go, but when an historical/cultural building is gone, it is gone forever!
To my knowledge, the Rodgers here in Anna has no connection with your theatre in NC. Isaac Walter Rodgers owned this theatre along with about 5 others spread out between IL, MO, and KY. I found another theatre named Rodgers in/near Mattoon IL but later found it was named after Will Rodgers. I recently found the married name of Isaac’s granddaughter so I will soon be trying to track her down for more information on the family and their chain of theatres.
As far as a local group to help with the preservation, you would be hard pressed to find it. We have two groups here in town. One is the Union County Historical Society which isn’t very large and all of their time, money, and energy are going into restoring the DuBois building in Cobden to use as a museum. The other is the P.A.S.T organization which is in the same boat except with St.Annes church in Anna. Our theatre’s demise can be attributed to previous owners, lack of available money, and most of all lack of community support. Most people here would rather spend more money on the local high school football team than a building of historical and cultural significance.
I have a digital photo of the Rodgers Theatre that is in Shelby NC and I will look to see if there are any physical design similarities. And the theatre in Shelby is not listed on CT.
There must be a grass roots local group that has or can band together and save the art deco Rodgers!
“It closed in 1998 and recently has become in danger of being razed by the city of Anna despite its owner’s attempts at saving the Rodgers.” I hope the City of Anna doesn’t win the battle to raze the theatre and that the owner is able to save the Rodgers! Does the area have a local preservation group?
Try this link instead:
View link
Ken: None of the above sites “from a blog” seemed to work. I know of a theatre named Rodgers in Shelby NC…wonder if there is any connection? And I think that one is CT listed.
Three photos from a blog:
View link
View link
View link
It’s sad to read about a theatre such as this one in need of some TLC and community support along with perhaps some hidden issues….“It seems to me that there is something more to this case than just the city wanting to be rid of a dangerous building.” so I hope that in the near future “melders” and others will make time to get involved!
Just looking at the theater it is obvious that the theater is not going to fall over. It seems to me that there is something more to this case than just the city wanting to be rid of a dangerous building. Perhaps someone connected with the government wants it demolished for some reason. Just look at the case of West Frankfort’s old City Hall, which the mayor wanted to demolish so his business could have parking. I would love to help you, but I really don’t have the time to be involved at this time.
This theatre can still be saved! I have a copy of the structural engineers report that states the building isnt going to fall over like the city is claiming. The roof needs to be fixed (which nobody is arguing) and the front corner of the building needs to be repaired where they city damaged it during demolition of the adjacent building. I am working with the Illinois Landmarks Council and the Lt. Gov’s office to try and save our theatre.
Melders- Please email me at .il.us It seems like you are local and could be a great help to our movement.
I would like to comment on the bar owner. She has no reason to want the destruction of the Rodgers. She recently got a bigger parking lot when the building between her bar and the Rodgers burned down. When she was interviewed on TV, she seemed more concerned about getting the Rodgers torn down than finding out why the city had already planned demolishing the theater and not the abandoned building next door.