Fred Good opened the art deco La-Nar Theatre (hyphenated) on June 8, 1937 with Joe. E. Brown in “When’s Your Birthday?” The venue celebrated its 18th birthday in style installing widescreen projection to project CInemaScope films starting with “Jupiter’s Darling."
Apparently, the response was not as good as hoped. So Good retired in 1955 traveling to Florida only to die en route. George and Elsie Croft relit the La-Nar in 1956. George ran the booth and Elsie the box office. The venue celebrated its 30th birthday on June 8, 1967 and closed permanently the next day at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement.
Opened with the Ralph Ince directed “A Man’s Home” supported by a Mack Sennett comedy on January 18, 1922. East Peoria Mayor Jesse Hall delivered the opening remarks.
Charles Burden of the local produce and grocery store, Burden’s Cash Store, opened Burden’s Opera House in 1898 at 102 Main Street on the building’s second floor. Movies were shown as early as December of 1904 by traveling moving picture show operators. In May of 1912, he installed projectors showing movies twice a week. He and wife Catherine Conroy moved to Portland selling the venue to new operators. By 1923, the Opera House was operating as a full-time movie house closing in January of 1928 likely at the end of a 30-year lease.
The venue reopened in a ground floor, converted retail structure now known as the Tampico Theatre in 1928 at 121 South Main Street. It closed in June of 1930 apparently not equipped for sound. After being used for live events, it eventually made a transition to sound films and definitely sound on film technology in 1934. It closed after a February 27, 1938 fire damaged the building. It was redecorated for its reboot over three months later by then-owner J.A. Dauntler. A film explosion in February of 1946 again closed the venue. The townspeople created the Tampico Theatre Corporation to salvage and repair the theatre. It relaunched on August 2, 1946 after a refresh.
The Tampico received an upgrade by Asael Tonkinson in 1950. The Tampico Theatre Corporation’s stewardship of the venue ended on October 11, 1958 after a showing of “Restless Breed” in a dissolution followed by an auction of its Simplex projectors, a Manley 47 popper, 240 seats, and more in early 1959. In 1962, the venue was converted by Robert E. Schmitt to the Schmitt Furniture & Appliance Store. This building burned down in a September 30, 1979 fire. The original Burden Opera House carried on as a produce retail location but was later demolished.
The New Town Theatre was opened by Marchesi Bros. after as a streamline moderne moviehouse on March 25, 1937 at 212 Washington Street. The previous Prophet Theatre closed after the Jan. 1, 1937 showtimes. Vitrolite glass front with black and ivory captured the era and new seats reduced count to 350. It was housed in the venerable Odd Fellows Lodge building. Ivan Whitver was in charge. This was formerly Shloe’s Hall showing silent movies, the Dreamland Hall / Dreamland Hall Theatre also with movies in the silent era, and Sinnissippi Hall (live events).
The other former venue in town was the Prophet Theatre at 351 Washington which as the sound era name for Prophet’s Auditorium Theater which opened in the 1920s. Joseph J. Dauntler refreshed the venue reopening as the Prophet Theatre on July 8, 1930 with disc-based sound. In 1933, Western Electric sound replaced the previous system. The Marchesis modernization was said to be a new construction in some reports - likely just in planning - but definitely opening in the existing Odd Fellows Building in all other reports at 212 Wash.
The Town reached its 30th Anniversary with its new look under Mrs. Vesta Visitow’s watch. But a year later, it had a rough night when the venue was gutted by fire on January 6, 1968. The final film to play was Cornell Wilde on January 5th with “Beach Red.” The scheduled film the night of the fire was destroyed prior to showtimes: “A Rough Night in Jericho.” The building was razed about a month later.
The Bijou Theatre opened with refined vaudeville on November 26, 1906. The venue struggled to open -its third lessee opened on that night after the first two operators couldn’t hit an opener. the Bijou went out of business on January, 18, 1912.
Hanlon Brothers opened the Superba February 6, 1905 with live stage fare. Nichols and Angel repositioned it as the New Electric Superba Theatre with movies on January 9, 1908 on a 10-year leasing agreement. Nichols sold it to Tomas Watson in 1918. Watson’s Superba closed on June 26, 1928 with “Jaws of Steel” at the end of its 10-year leasing agreement. It closed as a silent moviehouse. It was torn down for an S.S. Kresge’s five and dime variety store.
The Alhambra Theatre’s Aug. 10, 1914 grand opening ad and the August 4, 1915 changeover to Strand under new operators are both in photos. The venue converted to sound to remain commercially viable.
The Strand was “temporarily” closed after the February 28, 1939 showing of Richard Arlen in “Silent Barriers” with all seats a dime. The closure proved permanent. The theatre was gutted for a renovation becoming a retail store, Robinson’s Women’s Wear, on November 13, 1939.
The Patio Theater opened on March 6, 1930 “Sunny Side Up.” The theatre lastest to the end of its second 20-year leasing period closing permanently on January 1, 1970 with “Don’t Drink the Water” and “A Bullet for the General.” The building was sold the next day to the local Farm Bureau.
The Warren Theatre by Marchesi Bros. Circuit opens here on September 28, 1938 with “Carefree” replacing the long-running Auditorium Theatre. The Marchesis closed the venue following the November 4, 1957 showing of “Shootout at the O.K. Corral.” The operators cited financial difficulty as it needed an additional 500 tickets sold per month to break even - challenging in a town of just under 1,500 residents.
The local merchants were ready to reopen the venue with Herman Krippendorf in charge. But on March 3, 1958 the building was gutted by fire ending the comeback hopes. The building was repaired and became a retail location of Royal Blue chain in 1959.
Charles F. Bender & Foster created the Orpheum Theatre in the Bartlett Building on September 19, 1910. Vaudeville opened the venue with a short subject film. The venue closed early in 1918.
The Princess Theatre took over the spot of the Orpheum Theatre beginning on February 22, 1912 with Gussie Hunt as “Jealous Julia” and Pauline Bush in “Society and Chaps.” The Orpheum live events were placed in the former Grand Opera House.
The Princess closed at the end of a 10-year leasing agreement getting a refresh in the Summer of 1922. It relaunched with a grand reopening on September 2, 1922. In September of 1924 the venue was gutted in a renovation to retail.
The Parks Theatre launched in 1920. Under new operators it became the Stockton Theatre in 1926. The theatre struggled in the transition to sound going dark in 1930, reopening and going dark in 1931, and the same in 1932. It hit its stride staying open from 1933 to the television age. The venue closed permanently at the of is lease on April 30, 1955. Owner Orville Bastian leased the venue to E & W Clothing converting the space to retail.
R.S. Hopper formerly of the Bijou launched the Lyric Theatre here on October 10, 1908 with a seating capacity of 300 (likely chairs) with films including, “The Devil."On February 15, 1916, two Chicago operators changed it to the Star Theatre. They appear to have skipped town after October 19. 1918 showtimes. I’d keep this one as the Lyric Theatre aka Star.
The Majestic opened as a nickelodeon in July of 1907 in the existing McNamara Building. The Majestic was discontinued at the end of its 15-year leasing agreement on April 13, 1922 by Orpheum Circuit which opened the Lindo Theatre the next day to replace the Majetsic. The McNamara Building was sold in 1924 and the new owners converted it in November of 1924 for other purposes.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, El Paso and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Fred Good opened the art deco La-Nar Theatre (hyphenated) on June 8, 1937 with Joe. E. Brown in “When’s Your Birthday?” The venue celebrated its 18th birthday in style installing widescreen projection to project CInemaScope films starting with “Jupiter’s Darling."
Apparently, the response was not as good as hoped. So Good retired in 1955 traveling to Florida only to die en route. George and Elsie Croft relit the La-Nar in 1956. George ran the booth and Elsie the box office. The venue celebrated its 30th birthday on June 8, 1967 and closed permanently the next day at the end of its 30-year leasing agreement.
July 28, 1942 shot of the Times Theatre grand opening in photos with “The Wife Takes a Flyer” playing on the big screen
Opened with the Ralph Ince directed “A Man’s Home” supported by a Mack Sennett comedy on January 18, 1922. East Peoria Mayor Jesse Hall delivered the opening remarks.
The Lyons opened on November 5, 1947 by Henry Leriger.
Closed October 3, 2003 as the modern Clinton 8 was replacing it.
The Capitol Theatre launched on December 7, 1928.
Capacity - 382 cars
Charles Burden of the local produce and grocery store, Burden’s Cash Store, opened Burden’s Opera House in 1898 at 102 Main Street on the building’s second floor. Movies were shown as early as December of 1904 by traveling moving picture show operators. In May of 1912, he installed projectors showing movies twice a week. He and wife Catherine Conroy moved to Portland selling the venue to new operators. By 1923, the Opera House was operating as a full-time movie house closing in January of 1928 likely at the end of a 30-year lease.
The venue reopened in a ground floor, converted retail structure now known as the Tampico Theatre in 1928 at 121 South Main Street. It closed in June of 1930 apparently not equipped for sound. After being used for live events, it eventually made a transition to sound films and definitely sound on film technology in 1934. It closed after a February 27, 1938 fire damaged the building. It was redecorated for its reboot over three months later by then-owner J.A. Dauntler. A film explosion in February of 1946 again closed the venue. The townspeople created the Tampico Theatre Corporation to salvage and repair the theatre. It relaunched on August 2, 1946 after a refresh.
The Tampico received an upgrade by Asael Tonkinson in 1950. The Tampico Theatre Corporation’s stewardship of the venue ended on October 11, 1958 after a showing of “Restless Breed” in a dissolution followed by an auction of its Simplex projectors, a Manley 47 popper, 240 seats, and more in early 1959. In 1962, the venue was converted by Robert E. Schmitt to the Schmitt Furniture & Appliance Store. This building burned down in a September 30, 1979 fire. The original Burden Opera House carried on as a produce retail location but was later demolished.
The New Town Theatre was opened by Marchesi Bros. after as a streamline moderne moviehouse on March 25, 1937 at 212 Washington Street. The previous Prophet Theatre closed after the Jan. 1, 1937 showtimes. Vitrolite glass front with black and ivory captured the era and new seats reduced count to 350. It was housed in the venerable Odd Fellows Lodge building. Ivan Whitver was in charge. This was formerly Shloe’s Hall showing silent movies, the Dreamland Hall / Dreamland Hall Theatre also with movies in the silent era, and Sinnissippi Hall (live events).
The other former venue in town was the Prophet Theatre at 351 Washington which as the sound era name for Prophet’s Auditorium Theater which opened in the 1920s. Joseph J. Dauntler refreshed the venue reopening as the Prophet Theatre on July 8, 1930 with disc-based sound. In 1933, Western Electric sound replaced the previous system. The Marchesis modernization was said to be a new construction in some reports - likely just in planning - but definitely opening in the existing Odd Fellows Building in all other reports at 212 Wash.
The Town reached its 30th Anniversary with its new look under Mrs. Vesta Visitow’s watch. But a year later, it had a rough night when the venue was gutted by fire on January 6, 1968. The final film to play was Cornell Wilde on January 5th with “Beach Red.” The scheduled film the night of the fire was destroyed prior to showtimes: “A Rough Night in Jericho.” The building was razed about a month later.
The Bijou Theatre opened with refined vaudeville on November 26, 1906. The venue struggled to open -its third lessee opened on that night after the first two operators couldn’t hit an opener. the Bijou went out of business on January, 18, 1912.
Hanlon Brothers opened the Superba February 6, 1905 with live stage fare. Nichols and Angel repositioned it as the New Electric Superba Theatre with movies on January 9, 1908 on a 10-year leasing agreement. Nichols sold it to Tomas Watson in 1918. Watson’s Superba closed on June 26, 1928 with “Jaws of Steel” at the end of its 10-year leasing agreement. It closed as a silent moviehouse. It was torn down for an S.S. Kresge’s five and dime variety store.
The Alhambra Theatre’s Aug. 10, 1914 grand opening ad and the August 4, 1915 changeover to Strand under new operators are both in photos. The venue converted to sound to remain commercially viable.
The Strand was “temporarily” closed after the February 28, 1939 showing of Richard Arlen in “Silent Barriers” with all seats a dime. The closure proved permanent. The theatre was gutted for a renovation becoming a retail store, Robinson’s Women’s Wear, on November 13, 1939.
Operated by Plitt Theatres from May 31, 1974 forward
The Patio Theater opened on March 6, 1930 “Sunny Side Up.” The theatre lastest to the end of its second 20-year leasing period closing permanently on January 1, 1970 with “Don’t Drink the Water” and “A Bullet for the General.” The building was sold the next day to the local Farm Bureau.
The Warren Theatre by Marchesi Bros. Circuit opens here on September 28, 1938 with “Carefree” replacing the long-running Auditorium Theatre. The Marchesis closed the venue following the November 4, 1957 showing of “Shootout at the O.K. Corral.” The operators cited financial difficulty as it needed an additional 500 tickets sold per month to break even - challenging in a town of just under 1,500 residents.
The local merchants were ready to reopen the venue with Herman Krippendorf in charge. But on March 3, 1958 the building was gutted by fire ending the comeback hopes. The building was repaired and became a retail location of Royal Blue chain in 1959.
Charles F. Bender & Foster created the Orpheum Theatre in the Bartlett Building on September 19, 1910. Vaudeville opened the venue with a short subject film. The venue closed early in 1918.
The Princess Theatre took over the spot of the Orpheum Theatre beginning on February 22, 1912 with Gussie Hunt as “Jealous Julia” and Pauline Bush in “Society and Chaps.” The Orpheum live events were placed in the former Grand Opera House.
The Princess closed at the end of a 10-year leasing agreement getting a refresh in the Summer of 1922. It relaunched with a grand reopening on September 2, 1922. In September of 1924 the venue was gutted in a renovation to retail.
Closed for renovations Feb. 7, 2026 to reopen in 2027
The Parks Theatre launched in 1920. Under new operators it became the Stockton Theatre in 1926. The theatre struggled in the transition to sound going dark in 1930, reopening and going dark in 1931, and the same in 1932. It hit its stride staying open from 1933 to the television age. The venue closed permanently at the of is lease on April 30, 1955. Owner Orville Bastian leased the venue to E & W Clothing converting the space to retail.
May 1, 1905 opening ad in photos. Its two year lease was terminated in May of 1907 and the space converted to a grocery store.
R.S. Hopper formerly of the Bijou launched the Lyric Theatre here on October 10, 1908 with a seating capacity of 300 (likely chairs) with films including, “The Devil."On February 15, 1916, two Chicago operators changed it to the Star Theatre. They appear to have skipped town after October 19. 1918 showtimes. I’d keep this one as the Lyric Theatre aka Star.
The Majestic opened as a nickelodeon in July of 1907 in the existing McNamara Building. The Majestic was discontinued at the end of its 15-year leasing agreement on April 13, 1922 by Orpheum Circuit which opened the Lindo Theatre the next day to replace the Majetsic. The McNamara Building was sold in 1924 and the new owners converted it in November of 1924 for other purposes.
Indeed - it’s located under Romantix
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, El Paso and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.
Franchisee Triple Tap Ventures closed here, Lubbock and Houston for non-Alamo rebranding after the February 7, 2026 shows. The most consistent rumor is that they will become Flix Brewhouses.