Sterling Theater

Joe Vogel on March 14, 2022 at 5:51 pm

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:

“STERLING, ILL—Sterling Theatre Corporation, care Grand Theatre, contemplates erecting brick moving picture theatre, 100 by 135 feet, at Fourth and Locust streets.”

Another notice appears in the October 20 issue of the same publication:

“George Greenough, owner of the Grand Theatre at Sterling, Ill., plans to build a new house in that city to play both pictures and legitimate shows. It is expected that the house and furnishings will cost at least $200,000 and seat almost a thousand people.”

The November 3 issue of Motion Picture News also noted the project:

“A new picture theatre, to represent an investment of nearly $200,000, will be erected at Sterling, Ill., this winter, by G. Geenough [sic]. The policy will be pictures and the theatre will be strictly modern in every respect. Work will be started at an early date.”

Andy69 on May 20, 2013 at 7:27 pm

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."

bloosoda on December 29, 2008 at 4:32 pm

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

LFOP on October 30, 2008 at 4:02 pm

Here’s a 2008 view: http://www.boxsetgallery.com/stein/index4.html

tmesser on April 11, 2007 at 12:30 pm

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

sdoerr on February 6, 2004 at 12:12 pm

Is it still part of Classic Cinemas? I dont see it anywhere on their website