Luxe Theater

117 E. Washington Street,
East Peoria, IL 61611

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Additional Info

Architects: Frederic J. Klein

Functions: Café, Religious Services

Previous Names: Blue Bird Theater

Nearby Theaters

Luxe Theater, East Peoria, IL

Opened as the Blue Bird Theater in 1922. It was located on Washington Street between Main Street and Anna Streets. It suffered a fire January 18, 1940. It was rebuilt and reopened as the Luxe Theater in 1945, with seating for 440. It was closed in 1955.

It was last home to a pet store, but has since closed.

In 2009, it was operating as a coffee shop and a religious meeting room.

Contributed by Bryan

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

alvatinerecords
alvatinerecords on March 28, 2007 at 1:01 pm

The pet shop shut down, and me and my friend are close to leasing it as a concert venue. We found it was called the Bluebird Theater until a fire…then remnamed the Luxe. We looked inside today. You can see how it was kind of laid out. There is a projector room… with holes where the projector would have shown through. There were still parts of the original screen up. We want to name or venue something to do with the old theater…

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on March 28, 2007 at 3:03 pm

Opened in 1922 as the Blue Bird Theatre, the fire occured on January 18th 1940. The theatre was re-built, and re-opened in 1945 as the Luxe Theatre, which closed in 1955.

I have no details of what use it became until 2000 when it is listed as the Bluebird Cafe. It later became a dog-grooming establishment called Lulu’s Place.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on January 2, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Boxoffice magazine reported in January 1940 that the fire previously mentioned started when a boiler exploded in the theater building. At the time the temperature outside was thirteen degrees below zero.

A recent internet search shows the Lulu business which Ken Roe mentioned as well as another pet business called Fins, Feathers & Paws. Both businesses are at 117 E. Washington.

Shilshil
Shilshil on January 13, 2010 at 11:51 am

I purchased the building in 2008. The lower level is The Bean Coffee Shop and the upstairs is being used for a college age ministry called The Garage. Scott Schilling

Shilshil
Shilshil on January 13, 2010 at 11:53 am

The upstairs is available for other venues if someone is interested. Scott 309-645-3838

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 10, 2015 at 2:24 pm

As this house opened in 1922, this item from the “New Theatres” column of the December 3, 1921, issue of Exhibitors Trade Review is probably about the Blue Bird Theatre:

“EAST PEORIA, ILL.— Frederick [sic] J. Klein, architect, has completed plans for a 500-seat theatre for William H. Schlem and work will be started immediately on construction under supervision of K. C. Snelling.”
The correct spelling of the architect’s first name is Frederic.

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