The Star Theatre was on 215 East Main Street apparently opening in 1910 as a silent movie house. The venue’s movies wound down in the mid 1920s stopping before sound but hosting live events into 1931. A.E. Pierce took on the venue wiring it for sound November 28, 1931 as the New Star Theatre with “Ten Cents a Dance.”
The New Star closed in 1932 and was reopened by R.C. Wheeler on May 10,1933 with “Red Dust.” It was used for sporadic live events and trade screening in 1934 to 1935 when it appears to have discontinued operations. When the Clintonia was closed for its remodeling in July of 1936, its equipment was stored at the Star indicating that McCollum Theatre Circuit simply bought out the venue. It became a feed store in 1940 and a grocery store after the War. It appears to still be standing as of the 2020s.
The New K Theater opened here in its new location on December 26, 1916. A.B. McCollum took on the venue in the 1920s and the theatre stayed silent as the K Theater until 1931. McCollum installed sound in 1931 changing the venue to the Kaye Theatre. In September of 1951, the venue got a streamline moderne makeover shown in photos.
Closed as the Clinton Drive-In in 1982. Reopened by Tom Gates in 1989 and closed in 1990 as the Clinton Drive-In. Mike Harroun reopened the venue as the Clinton Drive-In for the 1992 season on July 10th with “Field of Dreams” closing after the 1993 season and then moved the screen to his Harvest Moon Drive-In in Gibson City.
The New Cuba Theatre opened in November of 1948 according to the trade press by the aforementioned Russell McConkey and Raymond Murphy. The theatre costs $65,000 to construct. McConkey announced a closure of the Cuba Theatre (no “New”) at the half way mark of a 20-year leasing commitment. However, a save the Cuba Theatre protest was successfully launched by the Cubs Senior Women’s Club and Business Association in October and November of 1958.
The Cuba Theatre closed in December 18, 1966 with “The Ghost and Mrs. Chicken.” It was relit once more in 1975 as a country western performance venue. “The Greatest Show on Earth” was the top performer in the history of the venue with Ma & Pa Kettle cumulatively raking in the most money for their series of films. By 1967, the Cuba Theatre had dropped from seven to four to just two days a week of operation as the town’s population was less than 1,500 people.
Charles Kuchan, Sr. opened the IdylHour Theatre on March 30, 1912 in a conversion of the existing Savil & Rafferty Cigar Factory building. The silent movie house was such a success that Kuchan would move to larger digs. He completed a ten-year leasing agreement with the IdylHour on March 30, 1922 before moving on to create the Capitol Theatre in the venerable Opera House location on September 9, 1922.
The Idyl didn’t remain so for long finding a new exhibitor in Joe Ross who renamed the venue as the American Theatre in April of 1922. The American was apparently unable to make the transition to sound and appears to have ended operations in 1931 with films ending two years prior.
Should probably be listed as the American Theatre formerly known as the IdylHour Theatre.
Another completely blank entry which probably should remain as such. I’m guessing that this was the Lewistown Opera House based on the trade press and local newspapers. J.F. Knock created the short-lived Knock Theatre - possibly here - opening October 1, 1917. The Lee Family - Ralph and John - took over the Opera House (and likely the Knock) which definitely became the Princess Theatre in 1919 showing silent films.
Ralph passed away and John appears to have left in 1921. D.M. Sheets took on the venue in 1921 continuing as the Princess. Abraham “Abe” P. and Pauline Werbner, operators of the Quincy Princess, then moved to Lewistown in 1927 and continued as Princess Theatre operators here.
Doing well with the Princess, the couple built the larger sized and streamline moderne Werbner Theatre opening in 1940. They decided in the 1950s to reduce to a single theater. They completed 40 years of Lewistown film exhibition - easily the longest tenure in Fulton County - closing in 1967. The former Princess building remained in place in the 2020s.
The entry as contributed is completely blank - which it can certainly remain. But if interested, the Werbner family were early West Central Illinois exhibitors. Hyman Werbner operated the Princess Theatre in downtown Quincy, Illinois. Abraham P. and Pauline Werbner took over the Quincy Princess but sold it. They then moved to Lewistown and operated the Princess Theatre there.
Doing well with the Princess, the couple built the larger sized and streamline moderne Werbner Theatre opening in 1940 and closing in 1967. Though the county seat of Fulton County, Lewistown had only about 2,500 residents. The Werbner became the Spoon River Opry House burning down in April of 1972. Its remnants were demolished.
The Masonic Temple Building housed the Opera House in downtown Canton opening late in 1891. Less than a year later, the entire structure was gutted by a fire on September 21, 1892 when sparklers used in a stage play led to a fatal fire. The building was reconstructed and the venue became the Grand Opera House and then the Princess Opera House before becoming the Princess Theatre. The latter occurred when films became more profitable than live programming.
Charles Kuchan, Sr. had run the IdylHour Theatre from 1912 to the end of its ten year leasing agreement in 1922 elsewhere in downtown Canton and decided to move to the larger Princess Theatre - itself, likely at the end of a 30-year leasing agreement. Kuchan changed the venue’s name to the Capitol Theatre on its September 9, 1922 relaunch. The Capitol added sound to remain commercially viable.
In July of 1935, the Capitol was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt to a streamline moderne structure at its December 3, 1936 reopening. Kerasotes Circuit took on the venue in 1948. On July 23 1975, an F3 tornado damaged the rear wall of the venue closing it. But repairs were made and the operation continued on October 31, 1975. It ran successfully until economic downturn in the area occurred in the 1980s.
Kerasotes reduced the theater to sub-run discount dollar status in September of 1982 instead of closing the theater. That policy ended a year later with the Circuit closing the Capitol Theatre permanently on November 3, 1983 with “The Final Terror.” Employees liked the title so much that they let it be the forever title on the marquee past the Capitol’s closing date.
Capitol Music opened a record store in the lobby and used the auditorium for storage. A deadly Nov. 16, 2016 gasline explosion shook the building and led to the demolition of the former movie house auditorium in 2017.
The Hillcrest Drive-In opened in tiny Norris, Illinois near Canton and Farmington, Illinois. It opened on March 13, 1950 and was equipped for widescreen projection during the 1956 season to play CinemaScope titles.
The Hillcrest was operated by Kerasotes Theatre Circuit from 1977 to 1980. It fulfilled its 30-year leasing agreement with Karasotes moving on. It then closed after the 1981 season under independent operation.
The Grand Theatre was the replacement for the burned Opera House Theatre that had been gutted by an April 27, 1939 blaze. Though that left the opera house’s exterior intact, new architectural plans were drawn up for a streamline moderne moviehouse.
The Grand opened Feb. 2, 1940. The venue survived into the 1980s. It lost its lease to the property owner - a local bank - which terminated the lease for demolition and the subsequent creation of a drive-through banking facility. The Grand Theatre closed November 28, 1981 with “Halloween 2: The Nightmare Isn’t Over.” Argumentatively, it was over.
Harvey Frederick opened the Woods Theater on July 25, 1948. The venue opened with 485 seats and projectionist Donald McKenzie in the booth. The equipment was installed by Gallagher Films of Green Bay. The Woods operated seasonally for summer tourists and year-round for some periods.
Its apparent final week showed a theater scuffling. February 2, 1974 it featured “Enter the Dragon.” February 3d and 4th, it featured the double feature of X-rated titles, “Teenage Mother” and “Teenage Sex Report.” Feb. 5th, it featured a four-wall presentation of “Call of the Wild.” There were no further listings likely ending its run eclectically.
December 31, 1920 grand opening ad posted with Norma Talmadge in “The Branded Woman.” The Park was the first cinema in town to convert to talkies on December 3, 1928 with a sound synch version of “Wings.”
The Park Cinema closed on December 29, 1983 with “Christine” and a bad boiler. The Park Theatre was torched on September 13, 1988 leading to its demolition.
The Milford Cinema was run by the Henn family from 1972 to 2020. They began as franchisees for the fledgling United General Theaters Circuit which quickly went out of business and on to fraud charges in court. But the Milford Cinema soldiered on.
Following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it had turned to new operators as a non-profit operation under its new name: the Milford Independent Cinema (MIC). MIC announced its closure on January 31, 2026. What a run!
Formerly the Value Cinemas - Brookfield. A year after its launch, Marcus Theatres took on the venue. It operated as a sub-run discount house through showtimes of April 14, 2002. The next day it began retrofitting for the University of Phoenix.
The new-build Pix Theater was announced nameless in 1939. It stirred a bit of controversy for displacing an 1844 building associated with early Waukesha furniture and cabinetry. (The stuff above about the Empire Theatre doesn’t belong in this entry.)
The Pix launched on May 17, 1940 with “Edison, The Man.” Bathed in era-appropriate green and cream porcelain, the theater’s exterior and lobby were in line with deco / streamline moderne movie houses - this one complete with stainless steel box office. The auditorium was also porcelain though in cream and brown color scheme. Its neighbors were attached jewelry store and drug store.
The long-running Pix completed motion picture service 56 years later as a discount, sub-run dollar house with Brad Pitt in “Seven” on January 21, 1996.
August 24, 1914 was the opening date for the Auditorium Theatre with the live play, “Seven Keys to Baldplate.” Waukesha repositioned it as a movie house in 1917 and closed the Unique Theatre. Fox Midwesco took over the Auditorium and Park in 1928 adding sound to the Park and letting the Auditorium drift with live events.
In 1930, Fox Theatres converted the Audi to sound becoming the Avon Theatre after a major refresh. It opened with Richard Dix in “Shooting Straight” on August 30, 1930. Standard Theatres of Milwaukee circuit took on the venue operating with films until dropping it in the Spring of 1953. They came back in the Fall of 1953 showing art films into 1954.
After Standard moved on, the Carroll Players staged live plays beginning in 1954 at the Avon until 1956. The theatre was gutted complete with a salvage sale as it was demolished in 1957.
The Unique Theatre launched in 1908. Waukesha Amusement discontinued the Unique on July 14, 1917 and converted the building to retail in 1918 after its roof collapsed.
The Star Theatre was on 215 East Main Street apparently opening in 1910 as a silent movie house. The venue’s movies wound down in the mid 1920s stopping before sound but hosting live events into 1931. A.E. Pierce took on the venue wiring it for sound November 28, 1931 as the New Star Theatre with “Ten Cents a Dance.”
The New Star closed in 1932 and was reopened by R.C. Wheeler on May 10,1933 with “Red Dust.” It was used for sporadic live events and trade screening in 1934 to 1935 when it appears to have discontinued operations. When the Clintonia was closed for its remodeling in July of 1936, its equipment was stored at the Star indicating that McCollum Theatre Circuit simply bought out the venue. It became a feed store in 1940 and a grocery store after the War. It appears to still be standing as of the 2020s.
The New K Theater opened here in its new location on December 26, 1916. A.B. McCollum took on the venue in the 1920s and the theatre stayed silent as the K Theater until 1931. McCollum installed sound in 1931 changing the venue to the Kaye Theatre. In September of 1951, the venue got a streamline moderne makeover shown in photos.
Closed as the Clinton Drive-In in 1982. Reopened by Tom Gates in 1989 and closed in 1990 as the Clinton Drive-In. Mike Harroun reopened the venue as the Clinton Drive-In for the 1992 season on July 10th with “Field of Dreams” closing after the 1993 season and then moved the screen to his Harvest Moon Drive-In in Gibson City.
August 15, 2008 grand opening ad in photos.
Abe Werbner
Closed permanently in 2019 and roof collapsed on August 4, 2024 leading to its condemnation.
The New Cuba Theatre opened in November of 1948 according to the trade press by the aforementioned Russell McConkey and Raymond Murphy. The theatre costs $65,000 to construct. McConkey announced a closure of the Cuba Theatre (no “New”) at the half way mark of a 20-year leasing commitment. However, a save the Cuba Theatre protest was successfully launched by the Cubs Senior Women’s Club and Business Association in October and November of 1958.
The Cuba Theatre closed in December 18, 1966 with “The Ghost and Mrs. Chicken.” It was relit once more in 1975 as a country western performance venue. “The Greatest Show on Earth” was the top performer in the history of the venue with Ma & Pa Kettle cumulatively raking in the most money for their series of films. By 1967, the Cuba Theatre had dropped from seven to four to just two days a week of operation as the town’s population was less than 1,500 people.
Thursday, January 29th, 2026 is confirmed as the final day.
Sorry - did some further research….
Charles Kuchan, Sr. opened the IdylHour Theatre on March 30, 1912 in a conversion of the existing Savil & Rafferty Cigar Factory building. The silent movie house was such a success that Kuchan would move to larger digs. He completed a ten-year leasing agreement with the IdylHour on March 30, 1922 before moving on to create the Capitol Theatre in the venerable Opera House location on September 9, 1922.
The Idyl didn’t remain so for long finding a new exhibitor in Joe Ross who renamed the venue as the American Theatre in April of 1922. The American was apparently unable to make the transition to sound and appears to have ended operations in 1931 with films ending two years prior.
Should probably be listed as the American Theatre formerly known as the IdylHour Theatre.
Another completely blank entry which probably should remain as such. I’m guessing that this was the Lewistown Opera House based on the trade press and local newspapers. J.F. Knock created the short-lived Knock Theatre - possibly here - opening October 1, 1917. The Lee Family - Ralph and John - took over the Opera House (and likely the Knock) which definitely became the Princess Theatre in 1919 showing silent films.
Ralph passed away and John appears to have left in 1921. D.M. Sheets took on the venue in 1921 continuing as the Princess. Abraham “Abe” P. and Pauline Werbner, operators of the Quincy Princess, then moved to Lewistown in 1927 and continued as Princess Theatre operators here.
Doing well with the Princess, the couple built the larger sized and streamline moderne Werbner Theatre opening in 1940. They decided in the 1950s to reduce to a single theater. They completed 40 years of Lewistown film exhibition - easily the longest tenure in Fulton County - closing in 1967. The former Princess building remained in place in the 2020s.
The entry as contributed is completely blank - which it can certainly remain. But if interested, the Werbner family were early West Central Illinois exhibitors. Hyman Werbner operated the Princess Theatre in downtown Quincy, Illinois. Abraham P. and Pauline Werbner took over the Quincy Princess but sold it. They then moved to Lewistown and operated the Princess Theatre there.
Doing well with the Princess, the couple built the larger sized and streamline moderne Werbner Theatre opening in 1940 and closing in 1967. Though the county seat of Fulton County, Lewistown had only about 2,500 residents. The Werbner became the Spoon River Opry House burning down in April of 1972. Its remnants were demolished.
The Masonic Temple Building housed the Opera House in downtown Canton opening late in 1891. Less than a year later, the entire structure was gutted by a fire on September 21, 1892 when sparklers used in a stage play led to a fatal fire. The building was reconstructed and the venue became the Grand Opera House and then the Princess Opera House before becoming the Princess Theatre. The latter occurred when films became more profitable than live programming.
Charles Kuchan, Sr. had run the IdylHour Theatre from 1912 to the end of its ten year leasing agreement in 1922 elsewhere in downtown Canton and decided to move to the larger Princess Theatre - itself, likely at the end of a 30-year leasing agreement. Kuchan changed the venue’s name to the Capitol Theatre on its September 9, 1922 relaunch. The Capitol added sound to remain commercially viable.
In July of 1935, the Capitol was gutted by fire. It was rebuilt to a streamline moderne structure at its December 3, 1936 reopening. Kerasotes Circuit took on the venue in 1948. On July 23 1975, an F3 tornado damaged the rear wall of the venue closing it. But repairs were made and the operation continued on October 31, 1975. It ran successfully until economic downturn in the area occurred in the 1980s.
Kerasotes reduced the theater to sub-run discount dollar status in September of 1982 instead of closing the theater. That policy ended a year later with the Circuit closing the Capitol Theatre permanently on November 3, 1983 with “The Final Terror.” Employees liked the title so much that they let it be the forever title on the marquee past the Capitol’s closing date.
Capitol Music opened a record store in the lobby and used the auditorium for storage. A deadly Nov. 16, 2016 gasline explosion shook the building and led to the demolition of the former movie house auditorium in 2017.
The Hillcrest Drive-In opened in tiny Norris, Illinois near Canton and Farmington, Illinois. It opened on March 13, 1950 and was equipped for widescreen projection during the 1956 season to play CinemaScope titles.
The Hillcrest was operated by Kerasotes Theatre Circuit from 1977 to 1980. It fulfilled its 30-year leasing agreement with Karasotes moving on. It then closed after the 1981 season under independent operation.
Status: Demolished.
Opened by Claude Ezell and Associates Inc. / Ezell & Underwood
The Grand Theatre was the replacement for the burned Opera House Theatre that had been gutted by an April 27, 1939 blaze. Though that left the opera house’s exterior intact, new architectural plans were drawn up for a streamline moderne moviehouse.
The Grand opened Feb. 2, 1940. The venue survived into the 1980s. It lost its lease to the property owner - a local bank - which terminated the lease for demolition and the subsequent creation of a drive-through banking facility. The Grand Theatre closed November 28, 1981 with “Halloween 2: The Nightmare Isn’t Over.” Argumentatively, it was over.
Harvey Frederick opened the Woods Theater on July 25, 1948. The venue opened with 485 seats and projectionist Donald McKenzie in the booth. The equipment was installed by Gallagher Films of Green Bay. The Woods operated seasonally for summer tourists and year-round for some periods.
Its apparent final week showed a theater scuffling. February 2, 1974 it featured “Enter the Dragon.” February 3d and 4th, it featured the double feature of X-rated titles, “Teenage Mother” and “Teenage Sex Report.” Feb. 5th, it featured a four-wall presentation of “Call of the Wild.” There were no further listings likely ending its run eclectically.
December 31, 1920 grand opening ad posted with Norma Talmadge in “The Branded Woman.” The Park was the first cinema in town to convert to talkies on December 3, 1928 with a sound synch version of “Wings.”
The Park Cinema closed on December 29, 1983 with “Christine” and a bad boiler. The Park Theatre was torched on September 13, 1988 leading to its demolition.
The Milford Cinema was run by the Henn family from 1972 to 2020. They began as franchisees for the fledgling United General Theaters Circuit which quickly went out of business and on to fraud charges in court. But the Milford Cinema soldiered on.
Following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, it had turned to new operators as a non-profit operation under its new name: the Milford Independent Cinema (MIC). MIC announced its closure on January 31, 2026. What a run!
The Milford Cinema opened on June 21, 1972 with George Peppard in “The Groundstar Conspiracy” with the United General logo on the attractor
Architect - Peter Thomas of Cleveland. The cinema size was listed at 1,200. I would guess it was reduced to 1,150 after the split.
Formerly the Value Cinemas - Brookfield. A year after its launch, Marcus Theatres took on the venue. It operated as a sub-run discount house through showtimes of April 14, 2002. The next day it began retrofitting for the University of Phoenix.
The new-build Pix Theater was announced nameless in 1939. It stirred a bit of controversy for displacing an 1844 building associated with early Waukesha furniture and cabinetry. (The stuff above about the Empire Theatre doesn’t belong in this entry.)
The Pix launched on May 17, 1940 with “Edison, The Man.” Bathed in era-appropriate green and cream porcelain, the theater’s exterior and lobby were in line with deco / streamline moderne movie houses - this one complete with stainless steel box office. The auditorium was also porcelain though in cream and brown color scheme. Its neighbors were attached jewelry store and drug store.
The long-running Pix completed motion picture service 56 years later as a discount, sub-run dollar house with Brad Pitt in “Seven” on January 21, 1996.
The appeared to have exited on September 22, 1984 with “Angel,” “Children of the Corn,” and “Spring Break.”
August 24, 1914 was the opening date for the Auditorium Theatre with the live play, “Seven Keys to Baldplate.” Waukesha repositioned it as a movie house in 1917 and closed the Unique Theatre. Fox Midwesco took over the Auditorium and Park in 1928 adding sound to the Park and letting the Auditorium drift with live events.
In 1930, Fox Theatres converted the Audi to sound becoming the Avon Theatre after a major refresh. It opened with Richard Dix in “Shooting Straight” on August 30, 1930. Standard Theatres of Milwaukee circuit took on the venue operating with films until dropping it in the Spring of 1953. They came back in the Fall of 1953 showing art films into 1954.
After Standard moved on, the Carroll Players staged live plays beginning in 1954 at the Avon until 1956. The theatre was gutted complete with a salvage sale as it was demolished in 1957.
The Unique Theatre launched in 1908. Waukesha Amusement discontinued the Unique on July 14, 1917 and converted the building to retail in 1918 after its roof collapsed.