Pekin Theatre
813 E. Washington Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
813 E. Washington Street,
Springfield,
IL
62701
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Another one of Springfield’s long-forgotten movie houses, the Pekin Theatre, which stood on E. Washington Street, opened on December 7, 1916 with two episodes of the serial “Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery” starring Grace Cunard. By 1921 it was operating as an African-American theatre and operated as such until at least 1932, as a silent movie theatre.
It went over to special events, live theatre and boxing matches. In the late-1940’s it becamed a nightclub named the Pioneer Club, later renamed Savoy Club. In the 1950’s it became a funeral parlor, followed by use as a church. It was demolished in 1965 during an urban renewal project.
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Bryan
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The Pekin Theater’s Dec. 7, 1914 Grand Opening ad with two episodes of “Lucille Love, Girl of Mystery” starring Grace Cunard, in photos. The Pekin did not covert to sound and switched to public affairs live programming - meetings, boxing and talent shows into the 1940s.
After the War, it became two different nightclubs: first the Pioneer Club and then the Savoy Club. In the 1950s, it became a funeral parlor. In the 1960s, a house of worship. In 1965, the City used urban renewal to condemn the entire area including 813 E. Wash. to ensure that the commercial and social heart of the African American community in Springfield - which wasn’t in particularly good shape - was severed and could not mount a comeback.