Chi Theater
120 E. Railroad Street,
Sandwich,
IL
60548
120 E. Railroad Street,
Sandwich,
IL
60548
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The Chi Theater, originally the State, was part of the Lucas Theater circuit in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Contributed by
Ken McIntyre
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
This theater was not demolished but has been converted into a carpet store recently. It is located in downtown Sandwich on 120 East Railroad Street just a few doors down from the Sandwich Opera House. It’s hard to tell now that it was once a theater.
First advertised as the American Theatre in 1921 and operated by Ingersoll & Boget. It took the place of the Sandwich Opera House as the number one entertainment place in town. R.A. Shobe of Monticello, Illinois took on the venue to modernize it. On November 5, 1929, the theater had a new lobby and Phototone sound system becoming the Avalon Theatre. In December of 1933, under new owners, the venue became the State Theatre: “The Biggest Little Theatre in Northern Illinois.”
The State transitioned to widescreen projection. On August, 5, 1964, the State Theatre discontinued advertising with “How the West Was Won.” The entry should be the State Theatre formerly the American Theatre formerly the Avalon Theatre and purportedly the Chi Theatre. Operator Paul Sweeney noted that during his tenure as the State Theatre, the venue sold 1.2 million admissions - certainly enough to call this theatre the State.