Original rendering image added credit Benjamin Gravel. August 2025 street view shows it to be for sale. Satellite view shows it has no roof and is in a stay of decay.
From the City of Rockford Government Facebook page:
“CAPITAL THEATER UPDATE: The City is excited to share progress on the former Capital Theater at 1122 S. Main Street - an important step toward revitalizing this historic landmark.
We have taken action to preserve the building’s iconic front facade, commercial storefronts, and second-floor apartments, positioning the property for future redevelopment. The structure’s most notable features, including its terra-cotta medallions, deep red Spanish tile roof, and the sculpted faces of Anton Rubinstein, William Shakespeare, Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi, will all remain part of the neighborhood’s architectural character.
To support redevelopment potential, the City has:
• Completed asbestos abatement across the entire structure
• Initiated brownfields environmental assessments to increase marketability
• Ensured the property remains eligible for significant incentives, including historic tax credits
Only the severely deteriorated rear theater portion - long vacant and structurally compromised - is being removed so the remainder of the building can be safely stabilized and marketed to investors.
This partial demolition and preservation plan was approved by both the City’s Finance & Personnel Committee and the full City Council in August 2025.
These steps reflect our commitment to protecting historic assets while paving the way for new investment and opportunity along South Main Street.”
Re-Opened in November 2025 as The Ingersoll, a live music & dinner theatre venue.
Official Website, Facebook page and KCCI news piece below.
(The venue has 187 seats downstairs and 44 seats in the club level, which has a private bar, private restroom, and an elevator.)-KCCI
For the record there was a third, short lived theatre in Cedarburg called the Scenic Theatre located in the Bodendoerfer Store Building. But I’ve yet to find an address or years of operation.
CT Admins likely won’t change the status to Open until it actually does.
They usually change it to Renovating per my experience.
But here is the new Facebook page for the 400 via the Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s page.
For the record there was a third, short lived theatre in Cedarburg called the Scenic Theatre located in the Bodendoerfer Store Building.
But I’ve yet to find an address or years of operation.
Here is the official Facebook page for Sellersville Theater.
Not sure why it’s status is still Closed.
They are running the film “It’s A Wonderful Life” this Christmas in addition to it’s live entertainment.
1937 demolition photo as Atlas Theatre added.
“The Atlas Theater on Park Street was demolished in 1937.
(AKA Taylor’s per CinemaTour)
It was originally built in the 1840’s and known as the Concert Hall. Horace Mann, the education reformer spoke there in 1854.
The caption was written by Eugene Michalenko.”
A crowd of people gather outside the movie theater in Ripon, Wisconsin to welcome home Milwaukee native and Ripon College alumnus Spencer Tracy in celebration of his 1940 movie “Edison the Man”.
Ripon College Archives, Ripon College.
Facebook album with multiple images and history/owners of the theatre from 1914 forward.
One video in the description as well.
Courtesy Alvaro L Guevara, Admin of Echo Park History.
Address was 111 N. 6th Street. Circa 1915 photo added credit Charles Adams, courtesy Springfield Rewind.
Original rendering image added credit Benjamin Gravel.
August 2025 street view shows it to be for sale.
Satellite view shows it has no roof and is in a stay of decay.
From the City of Rockford Government Facebook page:
“CAPITAL THEATER UPDATE: The City is excited to share progress on the former Capital Theater at 1122 S. Main Street - an important step toward revitalizing this historic landmark. We have taken action to preserve the building’s iconic front facade, commercial storefronts, and second-floor apartments, positioning the property for future redevelopment. The structure’s most notable features, including its terra-cotta medallions, deep red Spanish tile roof, and the sculpted faces of Anton Rubinstein, William Shakespeare, Enrico Caruso and Giuseppe Verdi, will all remain part of the neighborhood’s architectural character. To support redevelopment potential, the City has: • Completed asbestos abatement across the entire structure • Initiated brownfields environmental assessments to increase marketability • Ensured the property remains eligible for significant incentives, including historic tax credits Only the severely deteriorated rear theater portion - long vacant and structurally compromised - is being removed so the remainder of the building can be safely stabilized and marketed to investors. This partial demolition and preservation plan was approved by both the City’s Finance & Personnel Committee and the full City Council in August 2025. These steps reflect our commitment to protecting historic assets while paving the way for new investment and opportunity along South Main Street.”
Re-Opened in November 2025 as The Ingersoll, a live music & dinner theatre venue. Official Website, Facebook page and KCCI news piece below. (The venue has 187 seats downstairs and 44 seats in the club level, which has a private bar, private restroom, and an elevator.)-KCCI
https://www.theingersoll.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579515766491
https://www.kcci.com/article/historic-ingersoll-theater-in-des-moines-set-to-reopen-in-november/66115333?fbclid=IwY2xjawOn0ZNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFzOEFrY25ITXV1MU5Ja0h4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo_-DekS5JYCgCe0u2RkHZagPoRXtAqnRDMfnaotcn9q_pvdHajcBFhI9tv2_aem_bJVd079ZcC9apZ-T3SadrQ
Opened on Friday December 1, 1939, not December 2. Here is the official Harpos Concert Theatre Facebook page with all it’s social media links.
https://www.facebook.com/officialharposdetroit
For the record there was a third, short lived theatre in Cedarburg called the Scenic Theatre located in the Bodendoerfer Store Building. But I’ve yet to find an address or years of operation.
Variety review of the re-opening with Cynthia Erivo.
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/cynthia-erivo-plaza-theatre-palm-springs-reopening-concert-1236597526/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
CT Admins likely won’t change the status to Open until it actually does. They usually change it to Renovating per my experience. But here is the new Facebook page for the 400 via the Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s page.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583980296254
For the record there was a third, short lived theatre in Cedarburg called the Scenic Theatre located in the Bodendoerfer Store Building. But I’ve yet to find an address or years of operation.
1919 rendering image added credit the Detroit Free Press, courtesy Benjamin Gravel. Originally projected to have 800 seats.
“The Ten Dollar Raise” released June 26, 1921 is now a lost film.
Here is the official Facebook page for Sellersville Theater. Not sure why it’s status is still Closed. They are running the film “It’s A Wonderful Life” this Christmas in addition to it’s live entertainment.
https://www.facebook.com/SellersvilleTheater
Update: Photo credit Joyce Moreno.
1937 demolition photo as Atlas Theatre added. “The Atlas Theater on Park Street was demolished in 1937. (AKA Taylor’s per CinemaTour) It was originally built in the 1840’s and known as the Concert Hall. Horace Mann, the education reformer spoke there in 1854. The caption was written by Eugene Michalenko.”
January 1977 print ad added. The 400 briefly ran XXX films.
Edward Lind opened the Lyric Theatre which was built in 1913. He still owned & operated it in 1918. Photos added.
A crowd of people gather outside the movie theater in Ripon, Wisconsin to welcome home Milwaukee native and Ripon College alumnus Spencer Tracy in celebration of his 1940 movie “Edison the Man”. Ripon College Archives, Ripon College.
Crisper version of 1978 image.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2151937638958648&set=gm.2682456928774383&idorvanity=413556385664460
Circa 1963 8MM film image credit Anthony D Diaz via Facebook
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/5350/photos/477848
Thank you for the clarification. I posted it because it is slightly crisper that the previous version minus photo credit.
Muncie’s Rivoli Theatre is shown in the 1960s. Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
The Liberty Theater Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
The Wysor Grand Opera House is shown in this photo from the 1960s. Photo Provided By Ball State University Libraries Archives And Special Collections.
https://www.thestarpress.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2020/04/29/muncie-movie-theaters-years-past/3041352001/
Facebook album with multiple images and history/owners of the theatre from 1914 forward. One video in the description as well. Courtesy Alvaro L Guevara, Admin of Echo Park History.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.1804292842990845&type=3