Additional history credit Center for Sacramento History:
(2 images added)
“Opened at 912 9th Street in 1927, the Plaza Theatre advertised itself as “The home of spoken drama… offering productions on par with and stage productions presented in San Francisco or Los Angeles!” In October of 1928, visitors could catch a performance of “Loose Ankles.” Starring as “Aunt Katherine” was Lucille Dexter. Born in 1897 in Colorado, Lucille appeared in vaudeville productions in Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento from 1914 to 1930. She married train engineer Howard Williams in Sacramento in 1925. The couple rented an apartment at 714 9th Street until they relocated to Nevada sometime after 1935.
The Plaza Theatre eventually transitioned to showing movies of the adult variety before closing in 1975. The building was demolished in 1978 and the site is now home to the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria.”
Credit Matías Antonio Bombal: “The main curtain from the Plaza was taken to the Colonial after demolition. It was there until 1998.”
Photo & description credit Bethesda History Blog:
Protesting segregation at the Hiser Theatre on Wisconsin Ave in a 100-hr round the clock protest in 1960. Long-time owner Henry Hiser decided to close rather than admit Black patrons and the theater subsequently was purchased by the Baronet and finally opened to the entire public after more than 30 years in business.
“Closed in November 1950 and re-opened a few months later in the spring of 1951 due to “demand after 4 theaters closed in Joliet.” Permanently closed in 1963.”
Additional history credit Plainfield Historical Society.
New Ownership, website & Facebook page below introduction:
“Hello! 👋
We wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves and to say thank you.
We are the Matsakis and Cantillo families. Monica and Chris Matsakis and Jose and Kristi Cantillo have had the privilege of taking the baton from Wendy, whose decades of dedication to The Skokie Theatre kept this building alive in the hearts of this community. Wendy, we are deeply grateful for everything you built here, and we don’t take lightly what you’re passing on to us.
We fell in love with this building for the same reason so many of you have, that it has a soul.
Our vision is to reimagine it as The Skokie — a 150-seat live entertainment venue and a home for comedy, storytelling, live music, improv, classes, and the kinds of nights you talk about for years. A place where this community gathers, laughs, creates, and connects.
Since word got out, the warmth and excitement we’ve felt from Skokie residents, neighbors, and local businesses has genuinely moved us. This town clearly loves this theater and that tells us everything we need to know about the road ahead.
We’re just getting started, and we want to build this with you. If you’re a local business, artist, performer, educator, or someone who simply loves live entertainment and wants to be part of what’s coming — our door is open. Reach out. Let’s talk.
More to come very soon at TheSkokie.com. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.”
As mentioned above the building is currently The Hub, an Assembly of God teen/community center. The correct address is 14 Broadway. Street view confirms both.
Block Club Chicago link with some photos and a time lapse video from the recent book’s co-author Robert Loerzel.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/10/20/uptown-theatre-owner-hopes-huge-open-house-crowds-will-boost-redevelopment-efforts/
Two mid `60s 35MM slide images added credit Frank Hemenway. Elks Opera House ghost sign is visible in one of them.
Photo credit Lakes Region Historical Society.
Slightly crisper version.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10175312527530533&set=g.1010015980328763
Additional history credit Center for Sacramento History: (2 images added)
“Opened at 912 9th Street in 1927, the Plaza Theatre advertised itself as “The home of spoken drama… offering productions on par with and stage productions presented in San Francisco or Los Angeles!” In October of 1928, visitors could catch a performance of “Loose Ankles.” Starring as “Aunt Katherine” was Lucille Dexter. Born in 1897 in Colorado, Lucille appeared in vaudeville productions in Oakland, San Francisco, and Sacramento from 1914 to 1930. She married train engineer Howard Williams in Sacramento in 1925. The couple rented an apartment at 714 9th Street until they relocated to Nevada sometime after 1935. The Plaza Theatre eventually transitioned to showing movies of the adult variety before closing in 1975. The building was demolished in 1978 and the site is now home to the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria.”
Credit Matías Antonio Bombal: “The main curtain from the Plaza was taken to the Colonial after demolition. It was there until 1998.”
Photo courtesy of Douglas Klein.
Two January 1983 demolition photos added credit Danville Commercial-News, courtesy IGHS & Foundation. Mach One now is located at the site.
New owner who intends to reopen it as La Reina Theater.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/09/28/this-humboldt-park-church-is-returning-to-its-roots-as-a-movie-theater-and-community-hub/
Thank you. There are other photos that will need to be moved by the Admins.
I do not see a CT page for the newer RKO 23rd Street Theatre. I added a 1963 image in the gallery here.
Website for current tenant CircEsteem.
https://circesteem.org/
August 2, 1985: The Century’s Richmond Theater in New Springville playing “Back to the Future.” (Advance/SILive.com | Irving Silverstein)
August 2, 1985: The Century’s Richmond Theater in New Springville playing “Back to the Future.” (Advance/SILive.com | Irving Silverstein)
Block Club Chicago article about future and fund raising campaign.
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/27/portage-theater-will-definitely-reopen-owner-says-as-he-launches-foundation-to-pay-for-repairs/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT9HbVwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMTkxRG9OU1ZSUzlXQ2FqVThzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe1fxr58eayWqgwWIr_vin3LLluswpYzXt2qUrdiY8wMwfhH1Bh3RIxwiwhdM_aem__dbIlpriUWmIWO1t6eqKdA
Opened as Harry Daley’s New Airdome Theatre. Circa 1912 image as such added via eBay courtesy LeRoy Blommaert.
Address was 6970 Wisconsin Avenue. Multiple sources confirmed.
Photo & description credit Bethesda History Blog: Protesting segregation at the Hiser Theatre on Wisconsin Ave in a 100-hr round the clock protest in 1960. Long-time owner Henry Hiser decided to close rather than admit Black patrons and the theater subsequently was purchased by the Baronet and finally opened to the entire public after more than 30 years in business.
This image says 4106-4122…\o/
https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/991/photos/130050
“Closed in November 1950 and re-opened a few months later in the spring of 1951 due to “demand after 4 theaters closed in Joliet.” Permanently closed in 1963.” Additional history credit Plainfield Historical Society.
Evanston Round Table article about the Hoyburn and other theatres.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/07/29/evanston-movie-theater-history-part-2/?utm_content=bufferb3253&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwY2xjawTYaNVwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4I8LSdD32PhyHTX6e8mP9AYBwIV3SMvN0Dok8c8sz-5m1vyE8y3nyIHbIR_w_aem_Gb0tFswbI8to6Jzo9e6uUA
Book about Wm H. Malone “Hundred Cents on the Dollar”.
https://hundredcentsonthedollar.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTPAhBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4MEQ3OFd4SElDSFlYbDBMc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHlkQAEb7fRLaJHKjceQ8vHE8VXM4WOMewOk1GCkZdIcD1M4NAP_Dyg2czp-T_aem_DzdEXBbbVwAH-zlTdnO-JA
Full size version here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1671004361699688&set=a.440956844704452
New Ownership, website & Facebook page below introduction: “Hello! 👋 We wanted to take a moment to introduce ourselves and to say thank you. We are the Matsakis and Cantillo families. Monica and Chris Matsakis and Jose and Kristi Cantillo have had the privilege of taking the baton from Wendy, whose decades of dedication to The Skokie Theatre kept this building alive in the hearts of this community. Wendy, we are deeply grateful for everything you built here, and we don’t take lightly what you’re passing on to us. We fell in love with this building for the same reason so many of you have, that it has a soul. Our vision is to reimagine it as The Skokie — a 150-seat live entertainment venue and a home for comedy, storytelling, live music, improv, classes, and the kinds of nights you talk about for years. A place where this community gathers, laughs, creates, and connects. Since word got out, the warmth and excitement we’ve felt from Skokie residents, neighbors, and local businesses has genuinely moved us. This town clearly loves this theater and that tells us everything we need to know about the road ahead. We’re just getting started, and we want to build this with you. If you’re a local business, artist, performer, educator, or someone who simply loves live entertainment and wants to be part of what’s coming — our door is open. Reach out. Let’s talk. More to come very soon at TheSkokie.com. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.”
https://www.theskokie.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawS7RZ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0T1ZxYUhlZHIyZ3FWTnI1c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpwvJLywtTs1MHykaXuanWRC85e2oGbWnN-TGCVAgA-RxLw7oM4kZBmcjR4P_aem_fgeBpI_kbGlYxiJpHHOqOA
https://www.facebook.com/skokietheatre
As mentioned above the building is currently The Hub, an Assembly of God teen/community center.
The correct address is 14 Broadway.
Street view confirms both.
Link with multiple photos of Center Theatre. Copy & paste to open.
https://aadl.org/taxonomy/term/63194