Officially closed. At one time Metrocenter Mall was one of the largest malls on the U.S. The mall closed in June 2020. The theater hung on almost 3 years after the mall closed, even discounting their admission to try to improve attendance. They finally pulled the plug. The mall and the theater will be demolished beginning later this year.
The bank and the Tuscumbian Theatre as of 2018 were for sale for $299,000 for both. The bank did own the theatre and remodeled the front facade of the theatre to match the bank. The inside of the theatre still looks like a theatre with balcony minus the seats.
The theatre structure (brick building) still exists at 2618 Forrest. Check it out on Street View. Would be interesting to know if any of the interior still remains from the old theatre.
Added current pic of theater in color. The Renaissance Theater groups is using the theater as their new home. Not sure what the condition of the theater is on the inside or if they are holding performances there.
Added pictures of the Peoria Theatre immediately after the fire, and after the remodel and reopening. The building is now open as the Lucidi Distilling Company. The complete remodel pays homage to the building’s history as Fire Station #1.
The theatre that refused to die. After the fire of 1966, the theatre opened much sooner than 1983. It was open all during the 70s as seen by the Moonraker film marquee. I saw quite a few films there including Grease in 1978. Three of the pics were taken by me in the Fall of 2015 and the theatre is still standing. The hotel that was mentioned has been vacant for decades so it does not need any parking. Good thing. The theater although gutted still remains.
Never knew this theatre existed but of course is way before my time. The address of the theatre listed and the picture do not match as the address would be actually about 1-2 blocks east of the picture. The building pictured used to be a drug store for many years and was a drug store in the 40s when my mom attended high school, which is located a block to the west.
The stairs on the left of the current picture lead to the third floor which was the dancing school. The door adjacent to that door was a jewelry store. The far right side of the picture, next to the current parking garage (which wasn’t there while the theatre was in operation) was the location of the boxoffice. To the left of the boxoffice was the location of the entrance to the theatres.
The Lee Theatre was located to the west of the Mister Donut (toward the top of the picture). After it burned down, it was demolished and was located where the empty space/parking lot is now located.
Official closing notice from Harkins added to Photos.
Officially closed. At one time Metrocenter Mall was one of the largest malls on the U.S. The mall closed in June 2020. The theater hung on almost 3 years after the mall closed, even discounting their admission to try to improve attendance. They finally pulled the plug. The mall and the theater will be demolished beginning later this year.
Still open!
Added night view of the Tuscumbian Theatre marquee. What a glorious sight!
The bank and the Tuscumbian Theatre as of 2018 were for sale for $299,000 for both. The bank did own the theatre and remodeled the front facade of the theatre to match the bank. The inside of the theatre still looks like a theatre with balcony minus the seats.
Added picture taken of the building after the tornado of 1989.
Finally added picture of Lee Theatre!
Finally added picture of Lee Theatre.
Added actual picture of the theatre and ticket to the showing of the Beatles' A Hard Day’s Night at the Mode.
The theatre structure (brick building) still exists at 2618 Forrest. Check it out on Street View. Would be interesting to know if any of the interior still remains from the old theatre.
Added current pic of theater in color. The Renaissance Theater groups is using the theater as their new home. Not sure what the condition of the theater is on the inside or if they are holding performances there.
Added pictures of the Peoria Theatre immediately after the fire, and after the remodel and reopening. The building is now open as the Lucidi Distilling Company. The complete remodel pays homage to the building’s history as Fire Station #1.
Added picture from inside the mall from 1990 showing the six movies playing there.
Added picture of the Tivoli close to the end. Saw some amazing films there.
Added picture showing the end of the Lincoln Theatre. It was the nail in the coffin of a vibrant downtown Chicago Heights.
Added 3 pictures I took on 10/22/13. Absolutely breath-taking theatre. It is stop your car in the middle of the street amazing.
The theatre that refused to die. After the fire of 1966, the theatre opened much sooner than 1983. It was open all during the 70s as seen by the Moonraker film marquee. I saw quite a few films there including Grease in 1978. Three of the pics were taken by me in the Fall of 2015 and the theatre is still standing. The hotel that was mentioned has been vacant for decades so it does not need any parking. Good thing. The theater although gutted still remains.
Added picture of Orpheum Theater. Finally!
If I remember correctly, didn’t the Dolton have a middle aisle in the middle of the theatre so patrons could cross over to the other aisles?
2-3 miles. Dixie Square Mall was on Dixie Highway
The marquee is gone…..
Never knew this theatre existed but of course is way before my time. The address of the theatre listed and the picture do not match as the address would be actually about 1-2 blocks east of the picture. The building pictured used to be a drug store for many years and was a drug store in the 40s when my mom attended high school, which is located a block to the west.
I believe it is the correct building. One correction. The theatre did not close in 1952. A better estimate would be 1962. Definitely 1960s.
The stairs on the left of the current picture lead to the third floor which was the dancing school. The door adjacent to that door was a jewelry store. The far right side of the picture, next to the current parking garage (which wasn’t there while the theatre was in operation) was the location of the boxoffice. To the left of the boxoffice was the location of the entrance to the theatres.
The Lee Theatre was located to the west of the Mister Donut (toward the top of the picture). After it burned down, it was demolished and was located where the empty space/parking lot is now located.