Fox Eastgate Theater

712 E. Walnut Street,
Carbondale, IL 62901

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Midwest Theatres, Kerasotes Theatres, Mann Theatres, MN, Wehrenberg Theatres

Firms: Fischer-Koscher-Bowden

Functions: Gymnasium

Previous Names: Kerasotes Fox Eastgate

Nearby Theaters

Fox Eastgate Theater

Opened June 30, 1966 at the Eastgate Shopping Center, located on Walnut Street, the Fox Eastgate Theater was closed in June 24, 2001 by the last chain to operate it, Kerasotes. A gymnastics academy was located in the former theater until 2010, and they had moved back in by the summer of 2015.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 19 comments)

tlogan
tlogan on January 14, 2008 at 2:09 am

I recall catching a double bill midnight show in September 1972 of “The Maltese Falcon” and “Casablanca” at the Fox Eastgate. The big surprise was that the final scene of “Casablanca” was missing from the print! The theater was across the street from the Golden Bear Pancake House, now also long departed from the Carbondale landscape.

KingBiscuits
KingBiscuits on May 14, 2008 at 11:15 am

David Daly was also the Springfield News-Leader’s film critic during his tenure at SMSU (now Missouri State University).

melders
melders on April 13, 2009 at 1:44 am

Just an update. I said nearly 2 ½ years ago that Gold’s Gym was only expecting to stay in the theater for a short time until they could build their own building. Well, they are still there, and I expect they probably will be for while.

swdailey
swdailey on October 10, 2009 at 5:48 pm

I revisited the Carbondale area in 2007. At least the building for the old Varsity downtown was still standing. They are trying to remake it into a performing arts center now. Saw “Flashdance” there back in 1983 I believe.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 14, 2010 at 9:36 am

The recent opening of the single-screen Fox Eastgate was noted in Boxoffice of August 1, 1966. Neither this nor two earlier items about the house had any photos, but shots of the auditorium and the projection booth appeared this page of the April 22, 1968, issue of Boxoffice. The Fox Eastgate was designed by the local architectural firm Fischer-Koscher-Bowden.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on September 21, 2011 at 9:22 am

tlogan, neat story,often late shows would come in sorry shape.

rivest266
rivest266 on July 23, 2015 at 6:37 pm

June 30th, 1966 and December 19th, 1985 grand opening ads in the photo section. Closed in 2001.

bodkin6071
bodkin6071 on August 5, 2018 at 4:09 pm

The Fox Eastgate closed on June 24, 2001. Last films shown were “The Dish”, “Memento” and “What’s the Worst That Could Happen”.

bodkin6071
bodkin6071 on December 2, 2025 at 1:13 pm

Operated by Fox Midwest Theatres from 1966 to 1973, Mann Theatres from 1973 to July 1982, Wehrenberg Theatres from July 1982 to May 1984, and finally Kerasotes Theatres from May 18, 1984 to its closing in 2001. Not long after Kerasotes took ownership they rebuilt the Fox Eastgate into a triplex on December 19, 1985.

bodkin6071
bodkin6071 on December 2, 2025 at 1:16 pm

Originally opened in 1966 with a total seating of 750.

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