Fox Theatre
War Memorial Drive,
Peoria,
IL
61614
War Memorial Drive,
Peoria,
IL
61614
1 person
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Wasn’t twinned and likely should be the Fox Cinema aka Fox Theater
National General Corp. circuit opened the Fox Theatre on July 2, 1969 with “Funny Girl” on a 20-year leasing agreement. The venue owed its name to Fox Eastern Theatres, the subsidiary responsible for planning and opening the Fox - reportedly its 293d location. It was announced in June of 1967 - a $500,000 replacing the Risius Greenhouse facility. (The sister Fox Midwestern Theatres had nearby locations in Champaign, Jacksonville, Springfield, and into Southern Illinois at the time.)
The 821-seat luxury suburban single-screen theater was everything the aging downtown Peoria theaters weren’t. They had comfy new seating, lots of free parking (250 spaces), modern HVAC designed for the building at opening, and - when the Northwoods Mall opened four years later - was near the fastest growing part of retail in Peoria. The venue was announced and construction started by Becker Bros. in 1968. It was the city’s first hardtop, new-build theater since the Crest in 1939.
The venue’s booth left space for 70mm platters but opened and stuck with 35mm projection. Also, despite what it says above, this one remained stubbornly single-screen despite operating into the multiplex era and being outpaced. It’s opening location was 4025 W. War Memorial Drive in Peoria and its successor - the Red Roof Inn was 1822 West War Memorial Drive in an address switch (should you want to pay your respects in person).
Effective July 1, 1973 Mann’s Theatres took over the National General Corp. portfolio - here as Mann’s Fox Theater. Wehrenberg Theatres took on the Mann portfolios in the area effective July 1, 1982. Union projectionists were picketing on July 3, 1982 at the Fox Theater. On May 18, 1984, the Illinois portfolio of theaters was sold by Wehrenberg to Kerasotes Theatres. In 1985, those venues were under the GKC moniker (George Kerasotes Theatres) and, for reasons unclear, GKC actively marketed the portfolio including the Fox as “cinemas” with this venue as the Fox Cinema from November 1985 to closure despite not changing the exterior signage of “Fox Theater.”
As the leasing expiry was coming at January’s end in 1989, the building was sold outright to the parent company of Red Roof Inn. The theatre closed as the Fox Cinema on January 22, 1989 with “Twins.” The City Council approved of plans to raze the theatre which may have started in December of 1989 but completed in 1990. As noted, the Red Roof Inn’s operational cycle was primarily at 1822 West War Memorial Drive after the area was renumbered. And it was also knocked over with that patch of commercial area in turnaround.
Taken over by Kerasotes in May 1984.
On one screen. Do you know what film closed on the other screen?
Final show on January 22, 1989: Twins
Once operated by Wehrenberg after the chain sold six Illinois theaters from Mann in July 1982.
The last listings were on January 22nd, 1989.
Opened on July 2nd, 1969 with “Funny Girl” on a hard-ticket policy. Grand opening ad posted.
I saw Footloose, Hoosiers and Three Amigos there when I was a teenager. Loved that place!!
i saw raiders of lost ark here in sept of 81..forgot or didnt notice the egyptian theme mentioned above…i went straight to the seats.. while roger and ronald and their friend david i think it was got snacks…roger said ronald tripped in the aisle with his popcorn or something to that effect….that was a great great movie. bot it had action all the way through it i said..by tdays standards..not..1st movie i saw brother tom took me to see king kong there..last movie i saw there again was with tom…dead man dont wear plaid june 82
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