Irvin Theatre

204 E. Jefferson Street,
Bloomington, IL 61701

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp., Kerasotes Theatres, Plitt Theatres

Architects: Charles F. Sorensen

Styles: Neo-Classical

Nearby Theaters

Irvin Theatre

One of two downtown Bloomington movie houses (the recently renovated and reopened Castle Theatre being the other), the Irvin Theatre was a center of entertainment from the time it opened August 26, 1915 until it closed January 7, 1982.

It was demolished on October 3, 1987, and for many years, its auditorium seats had been stored in the Castle Theatre during its many years of being shuttered.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 31, 2011 at 3:52 am

The Irvin Theatre, according to entries on this web page, was under construction in April, 1915. That same year, the November issue of The International Confectioner listed the Irvin Theatre Candy Shop at Bloomington in its new businesses section. The theater most likely opened about the same time.

The July 22, 1916, issue of The Moving Picture World said that the owner of the Irvin Theatre, Clarence E. Irvin, had closed his older Princess Theatre, which had been located at 412 N. Main Street.

Clarence Irvin operated several other theaters in Bloomington at various times, including the Castle and the Illini. He eventually entered into various arrangements with both the Midwest Theatres circuit and Publix Great States Theatres.

JonPutnam
JonPutnam on February 20, 2015 at 11:56 am

The Irvin opened on August 26, 1915. It had 1,100 seats. It became the first theater in Bloomington-Normal to install air conditioning and the only one to feature a CinemaScope screen.

In 1974, the Kerasotes chain purchased the theater from Plitt, which had owned it for more than 20 years. As business declined, the theater became a $1 house in 1981.

The Irvin’s last day in operation was January 7, 1982 (playing the Burt Reynolds comedy “Paternity”). After closing, it stood vacant until 1987, when it was purchased by a neighboring church. It was torn down in October of that year to make way for a parking lot.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 10, 2015 at 3:45 pm

August 26th, 1915 grand opening ad in photo section.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 4, 2017 at 12:33 pm

1958 photo added credit McLean County Museum Of History.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 30, 2020 at 6:56 pm

Demolished on October 3rd 1987.

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