Miner's Theatre
204 W. Main Street,
Collinsville,
IL
62234
204 W. Main Street,
Collinsville,
IL
62234
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The theatre is open now. Here is the updated website link. Update phone number: 618-855-9860. Status should be changed to OPEN.
The venue was created by the United Mine Workers Local 264 and it opened - according to the trade press and local press as Miners Theatre and is often referred to as Miners' Theatre. The keystone was laid by the St. Louis-based Kirsch Architectural firm on October 12, 1917. The entire structure was known as Miner’s Institute Building, a three-story structure housing the union offices , a community center, a library, a ballroom and the Miners Theatre which had live vaudeville, movies, and union meeting space at the outset.
In fact, the Miners Theatre’s first show on December 28, 1918 featured “The Sheriff” with Fatty Arbuckle, a Mary Pickford film and vaudeville star Lila Lee live. It was advertised as Miners Theatre. Architect Robert Kirsch’s Renaissance-designed the theatre including its tribute to mine workers on its exterior.
In 1929, the “new” Miners Theater grand opening occurred after it wried for sound to remain viable beginning with George Jessel in “Lucky Boy” on March 9, 1929. Mid-America Theatres took on the venue. Coal mining wound down in the 1960s and the board of trustees were notified that the company would be terminated its lease closing up on November 25, 1961.
In February of 1965, the Miners was reopened and “Sound of Music” was a major hit for the new operators in 1967. It appears to have closed September 2, 1968 with “King Kong Escapes” and “Journey to Shiloh.”
Florence Bloomer’s Bloomer Amusement Circuit - B.A.C. Theatres - bought the theatre on December 9, 1969. B.A.C. closed here as Miners (no apostrophe) Theatre on August 28, 1986 with “The Great Mouse Detective” and “Haunted Honeymoon.” It was reopened as a live events venue in 1988 and, after a period of inactivity, it was renovated (completed) and is thriving in the 2020s. It name is Miners Theatre although its Facebook site sometimes calls it Miner’s Theatre. Properly, it should be Miners Theater also known as Miners' Theatre.
This theater is currently closed and renovations are in progress; however, elements in the renovation plan may have to be scaled back as the costs are running ahead of the original estimates and available resources: View link
it’s open! The new number is 618-344-0026 and it’s operating as a live venue.
I don’t know which production company (or companies) is involved, but I do occasionally see coming-events posters at the Miners.
The theater company website shows productions in many different venues. It looks like the last show at Miners was in 2002, so they may not be using it as a venue now.
From thetourismbureau.org:
Curtains' Up Theatre Company (Collinsville)
The Company performs at The Miner’s Theatre.
204 West Main Street | Collinsville, IL
618-692-9934