Pekin Theatre
21-29 S. Capitol Street,
Pekin,
IL
61554
21-29 S. Capitol Street,
Pekin,
IL
61554
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp.
Architects: Elmer F. Behrns
Styles: Atmospheric, Oriental
Nearby Theaters
The Pekin Theatre continued the striking style of architect Elmer Behrns (the Egyptian Theatre in Dekalb, Illinois and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois). The interior decor was in an Oriental style including ancient Chinese pogodas and Chinese goddess figures. Similiar to other theaters of the late-1920’s, the ceiling “stars” delivered the Atmospheric style to compliment the Oriental style decor.
The Pekin Theatre opened November 27, 1928 and closed in 1980. It was demolished seven years later.
Contributed by
Mark Lenaway
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Here is a 1986 photo by Michael Putnam:
http://tinyurl.com/2r9csa
From the book Silent Screens, I thought this was a neat anecdote about the demolition of the Pekin Theater:
[i]“They called me up and said they had found something, a wallet at the Pekin Theater,” Robert D. king, age 56, of 7 Florentine Court, said. “I said, ‘Yeah, it’s mine. I lost it in 1959 or 1960.’”
from a report in the Pekin Daily Times (December 30, 1986) on the salvage operations at the Pekin Theater, where coins, wallets, and a class ring were found in the concrete ducts running beneath the main floor.[/i]
Check out this link for a couple pics.
http://hallk.blogspot.com/2011/06/pekin-theatre-pekin-illinois.html
The Pekin Theatre probably opened in late 1928. A brief announcement that the house had opened appeared in the January 6, 1929, issue of Film Daily.
Theatre opened 27 Nov 1928.
Program from dedication and interior view. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=782148912117215&set=gm.955532331300812&type=3&theater
Three members of the Pekin Civic Center Authority inspect vacant theater. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=781636325501807&set=gm.955090854678293&type=3&theater