Lux Theatre
113 N. Main Street,
Edwardsville,
IL
62025
113 N. Main Street,
Edwardsville,
IL
62025
1 person
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Additional Info
Functions: Retail
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Oh Gee Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Built for Olin Giese in 1920 as the Oh Gee Theatre (taken from Giese’s initials), this theatre on Main Street sat around 700. It was very short-lived, however, due to competition from the larger and fancier Wildey Theatre, and closed in less than two years.
Seventeen years later, the long-disused theatre was remodeled and reopened as the Lux Theatre. It remained in operation until the late-1950’s, and afterwards was converted over to retail use.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Here is part of a June 3, 1958 article in the Edwardsville Intelligencer:
The Lux Theater, originally known in yesteryears as the Oh-Gee, will pass into Edwardsville history Saturday night at 11:15 when the concluding reel of the last performance reaches “finisâ€. Announcing Tuesday his decision to shut down the theater portion of the building as of Saturday night, owner Clyde Metcalf said he was doing so to devote more time to the real estate and insurance business.
In response to a question Metcalf indicated that he did not expect the theater space to remain dormant for any appreciable length of time. Metcalf came here in 1942 to assume management of the Lux, having at that time an interest also in theaters in Jerseyville and Girard in partnership with Ballard & Horn.
Originally the building here was a combination hardware and grocery store, operated by the late William Kriege. When Kriege retired from business, Olin Giese bought the property, remodeled and enlarged it for theater operations. Renamed the Giese building, the theater was christened the Oh-Gee. Years later it became the Lux.
The Oh-Gee Theatre Became The Lux Theatre On May 16, 1939 With “Stagecoach” Along With A Few Unnamed Short Subjects.
The Lux Closed For The Final Time On June 7, 1958 With “St. Louis Blues” And “Short Cut To Hell” As Its Last Films. Between Both Films Is An Extra Called “Nat King Cole” Which I Don’t Know What In The Living Heck That Came From.