Illinois Theatre
214 W. Main Street,
Belleville,
IL
62220
214 W. Main Street,
Belleville,
IL
62220
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Grand opening ad with picture:
Illinois Theatre opening 23 Dec 1938, Fri Belleville Daily Advocate (Belleville, Illinois) Newspapers.com
No photos?
Soon after the Washington opened this item appeared in Billboard Magazine on February 1:
“The new Washington Theatre, at Belleville, has been the best addition to this city that has occurred in some years. Playing the best attractions, it has proved a most popular resort, and one that has been arranged for both comfort and amusement. The business done at this house since its opening has surpassed the expectations of its promoters. It is beautiful in design and accomodations and has put Belleville in a class with its sister cities. A condition that all here have looked forward to.
The Washington Theatre opened January 17, 1913.
The airdome was behind the hardtop, with an address on Washington, the street to the south.
The theatre was renamed the ILLINOIS and, as such, opened December 25, 1938.
All this information from the Belleville Public Library newspaper files and index.
Indeed, the newer facade is gone and the original is to be seen once again.
A local newspaper story and my 88 year old mother confirm this is the original old Washington theater. I have a recent picture to contribute as soon as the website is able to accept pictures again.
Bryan;
IT’S ALIVE!
They were tearing the modern facade off of it today.
The old brick and carved stone are still intact.
Also the raised section of roof over the old stage that was used
to house curtains and scenery backdrops is still there at the rear.
It looks like the original building to me.
The Illinois Theatre that is listed in the F.D.Y. has an address 320 W. Main St. as per the Cinema Treasures listing(theatre/11523).
None of the other theatres listed have the address 214-218 W, Main St shown here for the Washington Theatre. In fact none are listed with the name Washington Theatre between 1941 and 1950.
Film Daily Yearbooks from 1943 and for 1950 list this as the Illinois Theatre.
Theatre eventually renamed the ILLINOIS.