Wildey Theatre
250-254 N. Main Street,
Edwardsville,
IL
62025
250-254 N. Main Street,
Edwardsville,
IL
62025
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I took a few pictures of the Wildey while I was in the area on a trip through Southern Illinois last year. Here’s one of them; there are more on my Flickr page!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stormdog42/11412864896/
The Wildey was one of the host theaters for this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival, and on November 9th,I was able to attend both a film showing and concert at the Wildey. My first time to go inside the Wildy, and it is truly a beautiful theater!
One more article; this one with photos of the restored Wildey:
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Two more newspaper articles about the Wildey from the BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT:
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Another article about the reopening of the Wildey from the BELLEVILLE NEWS DEMOCRAT:
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At the link below is article from ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH about re-opening og the Wildey:
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The grand reopening of the theatre will be April 12.
The website has been listed as: www.wildeytheatre.com
The original architect of the Wildey Theatre was George H. Kennerly. Four years after the Wildey was built, Kennerly formed a partnership with architect Oliver W. Stiegemeyer. The firm of Kennerly & Stiegemeyer operated from 1913 to 1931 and designed several theaters.
The recent renovation of the Wildey was handled by the St. Louis architectural firm Trivers Associates, in association with the local firm of Henderson Associates Architects.
Here are some 1983 photos:
http://tinyurl.com/oncl7p
http://tinyurl.com/qtlvlg
The theater website has an interesting video clip from last month that shows the interior renovation.
http://www.wildeytheatre.com/
Edwardsville’s Wildey Theatre may reopen
By Terry Hillig
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/14/2007
EDWARDSVILLE â€" Two Missouri companies say they want to renovate and reopen the Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville in time for its 100th anniversary in 2009.
Mayor Gary Niebur said Thursday the city had entered into a six-month agreement that will allow Lloyd and Bennett LLC access to the building to study feasibility of the purchase and renovation of the building. Lloyd and Bennett LLC is a joint venture of MBL Properties and St. Louis County Realty.
Niebur said the project, if undertaken, would ensure renovation and preservation of the theatre’s auditorium, a key goal of city officials.
The Wildey, at 250-254 North Main Street, opened as a vaudeville house in 1909 and later became a movie theater. It closed in 1984. A private owner had plans for renovation that never came to fruition and the city, with the help of a state grant, bought the property in 1999.Advertisement
The city repaired the roof, took other steps to maintain the building’s integrity and had the Wildey marquee restored while looking for a private developer to renovate the property.
Lloyd and Bennett LLC proposes to renovate the auditorium for movies, live theater, lectures and the like, and renovate the rest of the three-story structure for retail and office use. Two spaces on the building’s ground floor would be renovated for retail or office use and the building’s second and third floors would be renovated for office or cultural uses.
MBL Properties President Matt Librach said the announcement marked the beginning of what he believes will be “a major redevelopment and an anchor of strength in downtown Edwardsville.”
The Wildey was built by local members of the International Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal and civic organization. It was named after Thomas Wildey, one of the order’s founders.
Edwardsville Alderman Rich Walker said the building’s construction was nearly complete 99 years ago this week.
“Its star has been a little dim recently,” he said. “One day, we hope to see this star on Main Street shine again.”
Here is an undated photo:
http://tinyurl.com/yutzcb
Here is a March 2005 article about the renovation of the Wildey:
http://tinyurl.com/n9kek
For more information, please visit www.wildeytheatre.com
I have some really clear pictures of the Wildey Theater. These are better than what you’ll find on the net. If you want one I’ll scan and e-mail to you.
If you have time check out our website: www.ozarktheater.com
We are restoring this one. Dan Stevens