Town Theatre
212 Washington Street,
Prophetstown,
IL
61277
212 Washington Street,
Prophetstown,
IL
61277
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The New Town Theatre was opened by Marchesi Bros. after as a streamline moderne moviehouse on March 25, 1937 at 212 Washington Street. The previous Prophet Theatre closed after the Jan. 1, 1937 showtimes. Vitrolite glass front with black and ivory captured the era and new seats reduced count to 350. It was housed in the venerable Odd Fellows Lodge building. Ivan Whitver was in charge. This was formerly Shloe’s Hall showing silent movies, the Dreamland Hall / Dreamland Hall Theatre also with movies in the silent era, and Sinnissippi Hall (live events).
The other former venue in town was the Prophet Theatre at 351 Washington which as the sound era name for Prophet’s Auditorium Theater which opened in the 1920s. Joseph J. Dauntler refreshed the venue reopening as the Prophet Theatre on July 8, 1930 with disc-based sound. In 1933, Western Electric sound replaced the previous system. The Marchesis modernization was said to be a new construction in some reports - likely just in planning - but definitely opening in the existing Odd Fellows Building in all other reports at 212 Wash.
The Town reached its 30th Anniversary with its new look under Mrs. Vesta Visitow’s watch. But a year later, it had a rough night when the venue was gutted by fire on January 6, 1968. The final film to play was Cornell Wilde on January 5th with “Beach Red.” The scheduled film the night of the fire was destroyed prior to showtimes: “A Rough Night in Jericho.” The building was razed about a month later.
Here is an item in Boxoffice magazine, April 1950. Maybe Tower is an aka?
Prophettstown, Ill.-The Tower here has been reopened after redecorations and renovation by the Marchesi brothers, owners. The house, built in the late 1930s, now boasts two huge modern floral patterns painted in fluorescent lacquer on the theater walls. Interior decorations were designed by Alex Claesson of Chicago, professional theater interior decorator.
In 1963, the Marchesi brothers owned the Town. August Marchesi was president and film buyer. Other Marchesi theaters in Illinois were the Amboy in Amboy and the Times in Savanna.