Sterling Theater
402 Locust Street,
Sterling,
IL
61081
402 Locust Street,
Sterling,
IL
61081
5 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Sterling Theaters (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Sterling Theaters, Inc.
Previously operated by: 21st Century Cinemas, Classic Cinemas
Architects: John R. McLane
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Sterling Cinemas
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
815.632.3708
Nearby Theaters
Originally built in 1924 for vaudeville and stage acts (original architect unknown), this 1,200 seat theater was partially destroyed by fire on July 9, 1943. It was rebuilt in an Art Moderne style designed by architect John R. McLane and opened on September 28 1944 with 1,020 seats. One of the features of the rebuilt Sterling Theater was a lighted tower, which became a beacon for entertainment in downtown Sterling.
It was later twinned and was taken over by Classic cinemas in July 1997. The lighted tower was rebuilt and re-lit by Classic Cinemas during a 2000 renovation.
From October 2003 until 2004, the theater was part of the Sensible Cinemas chain, but since July 2004, it was under new independent ownership of 21st Cinemas, as a discount house. The Sterling Theater also featured special free shows as well as an independent film series.
The Sterling Theater was closed in 2008. It re-opened in July 2013 as a brew & view movie theatre.
Contributed by
Coral Carlson, Roger Anthony
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Recent comments (view all 12 comments)
This theater is now operated by 21st Century Cinemas, the same company operating the nearby Plaza 4 in Dixon. The site layout looks very similar to the Sensible Cinemas site, which makes me think the companies may be related. The SterlingTheater.com site linked above is now gone.
http://www.21stcinemas.com/sterling.htm
Is this theater for sale?
Here’s a 2008 view: http://www.boxsetgallery.com/stein/index4.html
Yes, this stylish venue IS for sale! Check out: http://www.21stcinemas.com/sterling.htm
I will post a contact number for the owners, shortly!
I understand this theatre has been successfully operated as a discount house but was closed in 2008 due to some management matters as well as some air conditioning problems. Those have been worked on and the owners plan to reopen the Sterling in early 2009. In the meantime, they are still offering the theatre FOR SALE. Contact Mark at 217-549-3000
Photo from December, 2010 of the former Sterling Theatre. Looks to be intact with what appears to be a For Lease sign in its window.
From saukvalley.com, April 19th, 2013:
“STERLING – It’s official: The Sterling Theater will open July 3, its new operator said.
Skip Huston, who owns The Theater Management Group, said Thursday that he plans to open the brew and view – which means wine and beer with your movie, if you like – with “a brand new, exclusive film. A big, big movie for the summer.”
Huston had hoped to open in May, as it says on the theater marquee, but much work has yet to be done."
Website: http://www.sterlingtheaters.com/
The earliest mention of the Sterling Theatre I’ve found in the trade journals is this item from the September 1, 1923 issue of Moving Picture World:
Another notice appears in the October 20 issue of the same publication:The November 3 issue of Motion Picture News also noted the project:The Illini Theatre opened on March 10, 1924. It was given a major renovation in 1930 becoming the Sterling Theatre before burning down in 1943. A new Sterling Theatre proved to be a winner staying in business into the 21st Century.
George L. Greenough and W.A. Weeks operated the Grand Theatre across the street in the venerable Galt & Tracy Block that housed the Academy of Music . The Grand had opened in 1914 and became undersized for its needs. Meanwhile, the Academy of Music was flagging as live event venues in small-sized towns and medium-sized cities had been under financial pressure since World War I. Additionally, second floor opera houses were in quick descent as their safety was often questionable at best. In 1923, Greenough and Weeks built a mammoth 1,000 seat venue called the Illini Theatre launching March 10, 1924 right across the street from their baby Grand and behind the Greyhound B. The Illini Theatre would replace John Hoppler and Son’s Oakland Automobile Agency (which scooted over to 414 Locust and, in 1926, added the GM lower-cost Pontiac to the Oakland line). It would also share it entry with the Greyhound Bus depot.
Three months after launching the Illini, the Grand suffered a projection fire on June 16, 1924 and did not appear to reopen. Max and Herman Louis Gumbiner’s Gumbiner Bros. Enterprises, a Chicago-based theatre circuit, took on the Illini effective January 1, 1926. In 1930, the Illini Theatre got a major refresh and was renamed the Sterling Theatre and was under the auspices of Lucas Circuit which also operated the Lincoln Theatre. It relaunched on October 9, 1930 with “Follow Thru” supported by vaudeville. The original Sterling Theatre was destroyed by fire on July 9, 1943 in what appears in photos to be a projection booth explosion.
The operators, J.C. Kantos and Franklin Ford got permission from the War Production Board on December 15, 1943 to rebuild in the same spot. The pair signed Dixon-based architect John R. McClane and he delivered a new 1,020 seat New Sterling Theatre. The streamline moderne house launched on September 28, 1944 and had a very successful run.