The Baldwin Theater (1891-1909) was located on 318-322 St Louis Street next the the Colonial Hotel. It was built in 1891 at a cost of $109,000 (Approx. 3 million today) by H. B. McDaniel, Frank Fellows, Frank Curran, Arch McGregor and Peter McCourt. The Grand opening night was the day after Christmas December 26th 1891.
Since it was built to be a theater for vaudeville, plays & music It was quite the show place. Like the The Fabulous Fox and Powell Hall in St. Louis. People like John Phillips Sousa, Al Jolson & Eddy Foy preformed there. There were meetings and political rallies held there. And many movers and shakes of the day had their offices in the building. Judging from the interior photos the Baldwin would be twice the size of the Landers Theater.
It burned down on January 6th 1909 from a fire that started in the boiler room. After the fire, George McDaniel took the four pillars prominent on the front of the theater and placed them on the driveway of his house on South Campbell Road. The McDaniel Building would be built in its place which is now the U Student living at 317 E Park Central.
A photo stating that a portion of the old Princess Theater, in the East Commercial Street business district, was razed to make room for a parking lot and expansion of Roderique’s Music and Book Store, located at 301 E. Commercial November 8 1977.
Photo & description credit Springfield News-Leader.
Additional history credit Richard Crabtree.
(Image added)
“The Electric was built on the spot where Heers burned on the NE corner of the square next to Reps in 1913.
The theater was built by A.F. Baker of Kansas City for the Edward J and Frank Grubel also of KC at a cost of $75,000. The theater had a capacity of 1,800 and advertised as being fire proof ~ hope they go their money back đ
Grand opening was on Oct 8th 1916. They charge 10 cents for adults and 5 for children. They had 12,000 customers in one day opened from 1:30 to 11pm.”
Photo as Lyric Theatre added, and below additional history credit Bob Hartman.
“The Lyric Theater at 913 Main Street had a little bit of history to it before 1926. Form Jewelry store, wallpaper store, tailor shop, hardware store, saloon to theater to cafe' with rooms for rent and gambling upstairs, and for a while, a bowling alley in the basement. In the fall of 1925 Marge Armstrong received a building permit to convert the building into a theater again, with a balcony. The Boise Theater opened in 1926, and fell to the wrecking ball of the BRA during the destruction of downtown Boise in the 1970’s.”
Here is a postcard of the Colonial Theatre than can be enlarged.
It does not look like the building or area where the Onset Theatre photo shows on it’s page.
Additional description credit Save the Signs.
“Signs and businesses include Purgatory Ski Resort, Stuart’s of Durango, Turquoise Gift Shop, Durango Diner, Kiva Theater, Levine’s, Durango Furniture Mart, French Hardware and Western Colorado Power Company (Reddy Kilowatt).”
Reopened as Adler Theatre on Thursday January 9, 1986 with the New York based trio Mozart on Fifth.
Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center Facebook link with 3 images including the Quad-City Times article about the reopening.
I got the impression from some Facebook posts that the Tri-Town was a different theatre. But could not find out enough about it or it’s location to add a page for it.
Additional history credit Richard Crabtree.
The Baldwin Theater (1891-1909) was located on 318-322 St Louis Street next the the Colonial Hotel. It was built in 1891 at a cost of $109,000 (Approx. 3 million today) by H. B. McDaniel, Frank Fellows, Frank Curran, Arch McGregor and Peter McCourt. The Grand opening night was the day after Christmas December 26th 1891. Since it was built to be a theater for vaudeville, plays & music It was quite the show place. Like the The Fabulous Fox and Powell Hall in St. Louis. People like John Phillips Sousa, Al Jolson & Eddy Foy preformed there. There were meetings and political rallies held there. And many movers and shakes of the day had their offices in the building. Judging from the interior photos the Baldwin would be twice the size of the Landers Theater. It burned down on January 6th 1909 from a fire that started in the boiler room. After the fire, George McDaniel took the four pillars prominent on the front of the theater and placed them on the driveway of his house on South Campbell Road. The McDaniel Building would be built in its place which is now the U Student living at 317 E Park Central.
Previously posted but crisper version with credit.
Photo & description credit Springfield News-Leader.
When the Kickapoo was closed and was being remolded as the Four Star Theater May 25, 1957.
A photo stating that a portion of the old Princess Theater, in the East Commercial Street business district, was razed to make room for a parking lot and expansion of Roderique’s Music and Book Store, located at 301 E. Commercial November 8 1977.
Photo & description credit Springfield News-Leader.
Additional history credit Richard Crabtree. (Image added)
“The Electric was built on the spot where Heers burned on the NE corner of the square next to Reps in 1913. The theater was built by A.F. Baker of Kansas City for the Edward J and Frank Grubel also of KC at a cost of $75,000. The theater had a capacity of 1,800 and advertised as being fire proof ~ hope they go their money back đ Grand opening was on Oct 8th 1916. They charge 10 cents for adults and 5 for children. They had 12,000 customers in one day opened from 1:30 to 11pm.”
Block Club Chicago coverage of today’s groundbreaking ceremony and plans.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/10/12/ramova-theater-bridgeport-starts-getting-makeover-renovation/
Photo credit Joe Testagrose.
Circa 1919 photo added source unknown.
Cinematour had it listed but no dates of operation.
Photo as Lyric Theatre added, and below additional history credit Bob Hartman.
“The Lyric Theater at 913 Main Street had a little bit of history to it before 1926. Form Jewelry store, wallpaper store, tailor shop, hardware store, saloon to theater to cafe' with rooms for rent and gambling upstairs, and for a while, a bowling alley in the basement. In the fall of 1925 Marge Armstrong received a building permit to convert the building into a theater again, with a balcony. The Boise Theater opened in 1926, and fell to the wrecking ball of the BRA during the destruction of downtown Boise in the 1970’s.”
Original Columbia Theatre building designed John C. Paulsen. Photo added courtesy Bob Hartman.
Here is a postcard of the Colonial Theatre than can be enlarged. It does not look like the building or area where the Onset Theatre photo shows on it’s page.
https://www.cardcow.com/506890/onset-massachusetts-avenue-showing-casino-colonial-theatre/
Reopening early 2022. New official website for the Double Door.
https://www.doubledoor.com/?fbclid=IwAR2YQktyjZXfMKCnC3eeZSEw35sELtV7V4SBMIQVELayo4-4DroVb0iDAro
Photo credit C. William Brubaker.
Update: The fire that destroyed the Follies Theater was Wednesday January 4, 1978. Following day Chicago Tribune news coverage and image added.
Collection: C. William Brubaker Collection (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Repository: University of Illinois at Chicago. Library. Special Collections Department
File Name: bru005_06_eF
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uicdigital/5477088077?fbclid=IwAR2a5TFLa2Yf2I4wVa6RWvHaoGmqWiVwNjMpeKMGNp8aQAwerTwInfupmak
Grand reopening Halloween night, October 31st with Kevin Costner & Modern West. Official website below.
https://desplainestheatre.com/
Additional description credit Save the Signs. “Signs and businesses include Purgatory Ski Resort, Stuart’s of Durango, Turquoise Gift Shop, Durango Diner, Kiva Theater, Levine’s, Durango Furniture Mart, French Hardware and Western Colorado Power Company (Reddy Kilowatt).”
Reopened as Adler Theatre on Thursday January 9, 1986 with the New York based trio Mozart on Fifth. Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center Facebook link with 3 images including the Quad-City Times article about the reopening.
https://www.facebook.com/davenportlibrarysc/photos/pcb.1348120562013499/1348120465346842
I got the impression from some Facebook posts that the Tri-Town was a different theatre. But could not find out enough about it or it’s location to add a page for it.
Also hosted live wrestling matches in the 1920s.
Car parked in front of Family Theatre. 1928 postcard image credit Mark Karnowski.
Warner Theatre far left.
Closed Thursday September 26, 1991 showing â101 Dalmatiansâ plus âV.I. Warshawskiâ.
Appeared beginning March 23, 1959 for 3 weeks. “Quincy Jones gazes at his friend Sarah Vaughanâs name on the marquee.” - Mister Kelly’s Chicago