The Grand was finally sold to a new owner, from Texas, back in August.
DU QUOIN – It would appear that the Grand Theater in Du Quoin sold at auction Thursday.
Mayor Guy Alongi said the word he received was that a buyer located in Texas purchased the building from Regions Bank for $5,000. The name of the buyer has yet to be disclosed.
The bank previously offered to donate the building to the city, but the city refused, citing high repair costs.
“I just want this to be a positive for Du Quoin,” Alongi said. “I hope this buyer has deep pockets and a vision for this building.”
The iconic structure, located on Main Street, has been in disrepair for the last few years. Shows at The Grand were last seen nearly three years ago at the theater (Sept. 15, 2015).
Alongi said a feasibility study was conducted by the city to learn what it would cost to make the necessary renovations and said the cost was too great to tackle.
“It would be close to $1 million,” he said. “And we just can’t justify that kind of expenditure to the taxpayers of this community. Maybe in Carbondale or Marion, but not here.”
The mayor said he is deeply concerned about dilapidated structures in town and how they impact the community. He said The Grand, along with the Elks Lodge, are at the top of the list of buildings needing to be fixed up or demolished, the mayor said.
Alongi added that he would like to meet the buyer and have a conversation with him, offering the city’s support where needed.
The Grand Theater, which opened in 1914 with 900 seats, is one of the last of the small-town Art Deco-style movie houses left in Illinois.
Jeffrey Ashauer, who consults with the city on economic development, said the building’s roof is in pretty bad shape and would have to be replaced. He added that a portion of the north end of the building would have to be demolished and a new wall put up.
Without someone coming forward to repair it, the building is also at risk of becoming a danger to the public, Ashauer added.
“The north third of the building is in danger of falling in,” he said. “If bricks start falling on the sidewalk, we’ll have to condemn it.”
Ashauer added that the initial $1 million outlay would be just the beginning. New theater seats would also be needed, and would cost about $70,000.
“In the rear of the historic Murphysboro Liberty Theater is a Multivane Fan that was installed when it opened in 1913. The big wheel on the side is the fan sheave. The fan wheel speed depends upon the motor sheave to fan wheel sheave ratio.”
“In the rear of the historic Murphysboro Liberty Theater is a Multivane Fan that was installed when it opened in 1913. The big wheel on the side is the fan sheave. The fan wheel speed depends upon the motor sheave to fan wheel sheave ratio.”
Did AMC ever give the reason why they closed this theater? Makes no sense to close their newest theater, at 16 years old and leave the much older Univerity Place 8 (31 years old) open…
If anything is a true definition of a “fly by night” outfit,
it’s AMC Theaters. Taking down the outside signs that advertise shows, taking the showtimes out of the local newspapers.
Going back 31 years… the Illinois was showing the following:
6/28/85: The Goonies and Return To Oz
7/3/85: Back to the Future and The Emerald Forest
7/24/85/: Back to the Future and The Black Cauldron
8/2/85: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Heavenly Kid
8/9/85: Pale Rider and My Science Project
8/16/85: Return of the Living Dead and My Science Project
8/23/85: Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird and National Lampoon’s European Vacation
8/30/85: Summer Rental and Teen Wolf
Actually, this theatre opened for business, as the Kerasotes Illinois Centre 8 on December 10, 1993.
The other theater in Marion, previously the only operating one prior to the opening of the Illinois Centre 8, the Town and Country 4, was re-opened as a dollar house that same day.
AMC is once again on the warpath towards their older theatres, they also closed the Toler 2 in Benton and the Lory in Highland the same day, July 28,2011.
A fairly recent Murphysboro American article on the Liberty. There are some exterior and interior pictures from 1950. Notice the interior looks completely different than it currently appears. The reason is the theater suffered a major fire in 1954 and reopened the following year, hence the remodel.
Became the Southbrook 7 on February 16, 1979.
Some Historical Facts about the Illinois Theatre:
First opened in 1922 as a Vaudeville Theatre.
First movie house in town to show “Talkies” in 1925.
In 1976 BAC renovated the building in blue and silver at a cost of $250,00. It was also at this time the Illinois became a twin.
In 1980 Kerasotes bought the building and operated it as a movie theatre until December 2001.
Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” played here in October 1979.
Total seating was 956.
This drive in was open till at least 1977.
Simplex XL projector. Simplex SH-1000 soundhead, Christie H-10 1000 watt xenon lamphouse.
Potts Alpha A-3 platter.
Simplex XL projector, Simplex SH-1000 soundhead.
New website on the Grand’s restoration process:
http://grand-duquoin.com/
The Grand was finally sold to a new owner, from Texas, back in August.
DU QUOIN – It would appear that the Grand Theater in Du Quoin sold at auction Thursday.
Mayor Guy Alongi said the word he received was that a buyer located in Texas purchased the building from Regions Bank for $5,000. The name of the buyer has yet to be disclosed.
The bank previously offered to donate the building to the city, but the city refused, citing high repair costs.
“I just want this to be a positive for Du Quoin,” Alongi said. “I hope this buyer has deep pockets and a vision for this building.”
The iconic structure, located on Main Street, has been in disrepair for the last few years. Shows at The Grand were last seen nearly three years ago at the theater (Sept. 15, 2015).
Alongi said a feasibility study was conducted by the city to learn what it would cost to make the necessary renovations and said the cost was too great to tackle.
“It would be close to $1 million,” he said. “And we just can’t justify that kind of expenditure to the taxpayers of this community. Maybe in Carbondale or Marion, but not here.”
The mayor said he is deeply concerned about dilapidated structures in town and how they impact the community. He said The Grand, along with the Elks Lodge, are at the top of the list of buildings needing to be fixed up or demolished, the mayor said.
Alongi added that he would like to meet the buyer and have a conversation with him, offering the city’s support where needed.
The Grand Theater, which opened in 1914 with 900 seats, is one of the last of the small-town Art Deco-style movie houses left in Illinois.
Jeffrey Ashauer, who consults with the city on economic development, said the building’s roof is in pretty bad shape and would have to be replaced. He added that a portion of the north end of the building would have to be demolished and a new wall put up.
Without someone coming forward to repair it, the building is also at risk of becoming a danger to the public, Ashauer added.
“The north third of the building is in danger of falling in,” he said. “If bricks start falling on the sidewalk, we’ll have to condemn it.”
Ashauer added that the initial $1 million outlay would be just the beginning. New theater seats would also be needed, and would cost about $70,000.
http://www.carbondaletimes.com/news/20180823/du-quoins-grand-theater-sells-at-auction
The Fox Eastgate closed on June 24, 2001. Last films shown were “The Dish”, “Memento” and “What’s the Worst That Could Happen”.
“In the rear of the historic Murphysboro Liberty Theater is a Multivane Fan that was installed when it opened in 1913. The big wheel on the side is the fan sheave. The fan wheel speed depends upon the motor sheave to fan wheel sheave ratio.”
http://www.sturtevantfan.com/Survivor.html
“In the rear of the historic Murphysboro Liberty Theater is a Multivane Fan that was installed when it opened in 1913. The big wheel on the side is the fan sheave. The fan wheel speed depends upon the motor sheave to fan wheel sheave ratio.”
http://www.sturtevantfan.com/Survivor.html
Did AMC ever give the reason why they closed this theater? Makes no sense to close their newest theater, at 16 years old and leave the much older Univerity Place 8 (31 years old) open…
If anything is a true definition of a “fly by night” outfit, it’s AMC Theaters. Taking down the outside signs that advertise shows, taking the showtimes out of the local newspapers.
Simplex XL projector, Christie CH-10 1000 watt xenon lamphouse, and either a Potts or Strong platter, behind Henry.
Added 5 new pics taken today, of the former Town Plaza in its current state.
I only saw the two original auditoriums, I guess the three added on in ‘83 were off to the east side?
I see what looked like a doorway off of the east wall, that was “expanded” during the demolition…
Going back 31 years… the Illinois was showing the following:
6/28/85: The Goonies and Return To Oz 7/3/85: Back to the Future and The Emerald Forest 7/24/85/: Back to the Future and The Black Cauldron 8/2/85: Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and The Heavenly Kid 8/9/85: Pale Rider and My Science Project 8/16/85: Return of the Living Dead and My Science Project 8/23/85: Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird and National Lampoon’s European Vacation 8/30/85: Summer Rental and Teen Wolf
Actually, this theatre opened for business, as the Kerasotes Illinois Centre 8 on December 10, 1993.
The other theater in Marion, previously the only operating one prior to the opening of the Illinois Centre 8, the Town and Country 4, was re-opened as a dollar house that same day.
The Liberty was sold to the Kerasotes chain in August 1969.
1954 interior.
The pre-1954 interior.
What kind of lamps and projectors are those? Lamps are Carbon arc, most definitely.
The Town Plaza 5 is scheduled to close December 1st: http://www.kfvs12.com/story/16078389/capes-amc-town-plaza-5-to-close-dec-1
AMC is once again on the warpath towards their older theatres, they also closed the Toler 2 in Benton and the Lory in Highland the same day, July 28,2011.
A fairly recent Murphysboro American article on the Liberty. There are some exterior and interior pictures from 1950. Notice the interior looks completely different than it currently appears. The reason is the theater suffered a major fire in 1954 and reopened the following year, hence the remodel.
http://www.murphysboroamerican.com/entertainment/x1797084383/James-Marlow-The-Impresario-of-Murphysboro