Dreamland Theatre

The Taylors opened a nickelodeon called the Dreamland Theatre in the Hotel Main Building on May 24, 1907 after a test screening two days earlier at 206 N. Main. The New Hotel Main had opened at 208-210 N. Main on July 8, 1893 after moving from a previous location. The Hotel Main Building had undergone a major remodeling with expansion in early-1907 accommodating the theatre.

Lina Clark accompanied the songs at the Dreamland and the Pathé films that were mixed in with live acts. Vitagraph and other films were part of the mix as the short movies were easier to program and enjoy. It was so successful that in 1912 Chris Taylor opened a new movie theatre across the street. This location closed permanently as a theatre with its space used for other purposes.

Dreamland “#2” operated at 205 N. Main under that name until becoming the Willard Theatre (it has its own entry on Cinema Treasures).

Taylor then moved opened the Tabard Theatre - later becoming Kewanee’s Dreamland “#3” at 108 W. 3rd Street (it has its own entry - likely as the Garden Theatre).

The Hotel Main Building was retrofitted for retail including Good’s Furniture - a long-running retail store. It was later demolished.

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