Scott Theatre

Thomas S. Scott bought his first motion picture projector in 1903 and took his show on the road before exhibiting at the Grand Opera House which would later become the city’s first Illinois Theatre. But T.S. Scott and his fledgling Great Scott Theatre Circuit would create Scott’s Theatre as his “A” house. The theater made the news in the wrong way closing for two months in 1917 due to an influenza breakout. But it was open the rest of tihe time operating from 1909 to April 1929, likely on two ten year leases, Scott would sell off his theatre which would not be chosen to make the transition to talkies. The theater would advertise as Scott’s Theatre from 1909 to 1926 and the Scott Theatre from 1926 to 1929.