Moline Theatre

Located on 3rd Avenue (now renamed River Drive). The Moline Theatre was a multi-purpose building that was said to have been a project that took shape after the Moline Auditorium that had burned February 13, 1898. Charles Deere was among those who spurred an effort to build the opera house to the plans of Chicago architect, Sydney Lovell. Lovell’s plans were revised by architect Frederick F. Borgolte. The Moline Theater launched December 18, 1905 by the Chamberline, Kindt & Company Circuit with a live presentation of, “The Land of Nod”. It also had four bowling alleys, a billiard / pool hall, and a swimming pool.

By 1906, motion pictures were worked into the schedule as many as two times a week. The theatre began to work burlesque, live sports, and public speeches as it began financial struggles during World War I. By 1918, for its “new season”, it had positioned itself as the city’s most prestigious motion picture house. That ended badly when a fire in the building’s rear ended its operation on October 4, 1918. The building was repaired but gutted for other purposes. It has since been demolished.

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