Virginia Theatre
203 W. Park Avenue,
Champaign,
IL
61820
203 W. Park Avenue,
Champaign,
IL
61820
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Per the theater owners Champaign Park District, a new marquee is coming — more in the style of 1921’s original, which will reveal more of the Italian Rennaissance Revival style detail of the facade. The present marquee was installed in the 1950s (maybe in 1955 when the lobby and ticketed booth were remodeled.)
The Park District issued a press release today (I got it in a PDF) and if I can copy the text I will post it here.
Any links to pics of the original marquee would be welcome!
Nice close-up.
Here is a photo circa late 1960s:
http://tinyurl.com/lrzhal
Here is a photo circa 1974:
http://tinyurl.com/cgaj4q
These photos are dated 1965, 1982 and 1983:
http://tinyurl.com/cz5suo
http://tinyurl.com/db6qn6
http://tinyurl.com/cjzfe7
http://tinyurl.com/cnm3af
Ebertfest coming April 22 – 26. Can’t make it this year but it’s been a lot of fun in the past.
A 1996 view of the Virginia Theatre in Champaign here and here.
Here is another exterior photo. I think this was a revival showing of Godfather 2, not the original run, as it would have played for more than two days:
http://tinyurl.com/yrcwsf
Did they fix that water damage on the auditorium ceiling yet? Or even paint it? Every time I’m there it looks just awful.
For the sports fans:
This is the place where Harold “Red” Grange was offered $100,000 to play professional football. C.C. Pyle was the manager of the theater in 1925 and call Grange to his office while Grange was there to see s show. You might say that THIS was where the NFL became a popular sport.
The Organ was a style D wurlitzer 2 manual 6 rank organ still playing
1 2 3 4
Images of the theater
When I saw the opening of “Batman” at the Virginian they entertained the waiting audience with the organ as the crowd was getting seated. Before the picture began, the manager came out on stage and welcomed us and pitched the concessions. Charming!
A special weekend festival of accessability to the arts (CU Express)will be held at the Virginia Theatre, Champaign, IL on March 18 & 19, 2005. Striving to ensure that the arts are available to all people.
There is a picture of the marquee at this link
View link
In 1996 I saw 2001 there with my dad for the “Birthday” celebration of Hal. It was really cool to see the film on such a big screen. It really is a beautiful theater.
For the past few years Roger Ebert has held a film festival here which includes the showing of 70MM FILMS!