Quincy Theatre
521 Hampshire Street,
Quincy,
IL
62301
521 Hampshire Street,
Quincy,
IL
62301
1 person
favorited this theater
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It does look as though the library might have mislabeled that photo. The wall against which the poster behind Ms. Miller is leaning is also too wide for the Quincy.
I don’t see how the photo from 1916 can possibly be the same building. The entry looks much taller. Even in the 1957 photos the building plainly has a very old cast iron front which must have been original to the building. Wherever the 1916 photo was taken, it was a much fancier building.
I have just come back to this thread. What wonderful pictures. Thank you! Thank you! Ironic that my daughter is joining with friends to start an entertainment venue in Grand Rapids. It must be in the blood!
Uploaded two pictures of the Quincy from the Quincy Public Library collection. In the 1916 photo actress Mae Miller is shown.
The Quincy Theatre has been demolished. It was on part of the parking lot between the 7-story bank building at 529 N. Hampshire and the WGEM building at 513 Hampshire. The Illinois Digital Archives has two later photos of the house, both apparently taken after it closed, as the poster cases are empty and the building looks Rather decayed.
First photo.
Second photo.
There is also this photo dated 1915, when the house had a more ornate front.
I believe this may be our family’s theater. My mother says this because there were other theaters on this street and but theirs was known as the Quincy Theater. If this is the correct one, it was her grandfather’s theater. It was started by John O'Neill. John O'Neill had once owned a string of slot machines that he and my grandfather would service in a horse and buggy. The theater was later run by his son William or Bill O'Neill. However, my mother was in Quincy and the theater was torn down and became a parking lot.
If someone knows to the contrary please let us know. It was not built as part of a chain. Please feel free to contact me with more information or pictures if you have them. Sincerely, Jean-Marie Panyard