Academy Theatre
202 N. Genesee Street,
Waukegan,
IL
60085
202 N. Genesee Street,
Waukegan,
IL
60085
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp.
Previous Names: Fiesta Palace
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Sep 29, 2004 — Waukegan Scales Back Plans For Genesee Theatre
The Academy Theatre was opened in 1916. It was situated across the street from the Genesee Theatre, which reopened in December 2004 after a massive restoration project.
The Academy Theatre was last known as the Fiesta Palace, a concert/banquet hall which closed in 2003. Unfortunately, this almost century-old theater was destroyed by a blaze in October of 2004.
Contributed by
Keith Smith, Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
according to our records, this theatre was part of the balaban and katz chain as of October 1st, 1049. for a complete list of b and K theatres visit www.balabanandkatzfoundation.com
David balaban
thats 1949 sorry
Here is part of a Chicago Tribune article from November 2004:
Having declared the fire-ravaged Fiesta Palace structurally unsound, Waukegan is demolishing the former theater, with plans to save a few historical artifacts, officials said. Preservationists had asked city officials to consider salvaging the building’s red brick facade, but the city moved quickly to clear the site after the fire Oct. 27.
The building at 202 N. Genesee St., across from the newly renovated Genesee Theatre, opened in 1916 as Academy Theatre. It was converted into Fiesta Palace, a dance hall, and had been closed for two years, officials said. The city bought the building for $850,000 last year with hopes of renovating it.
Margaret Martin, a board member of the Waukegan Historical Society, said she was disappointed the city didn’t work harder to save the building. “I understand the safety concerns created by a fire-damaged building, but I’m dismayed at the rush to demolish such an important part of Waukegan’s past and future,” Martin said.
Since when have hotels become more popular than and started to take the place of cinemas? (LOL)
I was a the Genesee Theatre a few years ago. I think the former site of the Academy Theatre ended up just becoming a multi level parking garage.
I don’t remember a steak house or anything else. Unless it was kitty corner from the Genesee, and not directly across the street from it.
I seem to remember taking pictures of the Genesee marquee from the 3rd level of that parking garage. This was maybe 2006 or so.
My full Genesee experience that night is on the Genesee CT page.
Here are some 1982 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/c4zsjq
http://tinyurl.com/d8dazd
http://tinyurl.com/dc8w55
This place was definately where the new multi level parking structure is that served the Genesse when I was there.
CHUCK NORRIS
in
FORCED VENGEANCE
I can hear the preview voiceover playing my head now.
The Academy Theatre is mentioned in the July 1, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World:
This first opened as the Waukegan Academy in 1866.
It was announced on January 14, 1916 that the Academy Theater was planned to be built in the site of the Waukegan Academy. During the theater’s construction on February 2, 1916, a worker (reports as a tuckpointer) fell 16ft from the roof to the sidewalk suffering major injuries after losing his balance headlong from a platform near the top side of the wall. He was taken to the Waukegan Hospital downtown as the tuckpointer was identified as John J. Burke, a man in his 60s.