Lincoln Theatre

217-219 8th Street,
Cairo, IL 62914

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Rodgers Theatres

Functions: Fraternal Hall

Previous Names: Kimmel Theatre, Jackson Theatre, Rodgers Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Lincoln Theatre Cairo IL

Opened in 1917 as the Kimmel Theatre (replacing an earlier Kimmel Theatre [1911-1917] a few doors down 8th Street). The theatre was renamed the Jackson Theatre in 1932 and at the end of 1936, again renamed the Rodgers Theatre. In 1947 the theatre was once more renamed, this time as the Lincoln Theatre. It continued to operate until the late-1960’s. The building became home to Cairo’s Elks club until around 2013. The building was still standing in June 2021, but had been demolished by 2023.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft & Ken Roe

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

bbrown1
bbrown1 on August 22, 2007 at 10:16 pm

I believe the Rodgers Theater became the Lincoln Theater when it became Cairo’s African American move theater after the Opera House closed in the 50’s.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 8, 2010 at 4:14 am

The Lincoln Theatre in Cairo was mentioned in Boxoffice of June 14, 1947. The Opera House had burned down on February 7 that same year. If the Rodgers became the Lincoln when it replaced the Opera House as the town’s African-American theater, then the name change must have taken place that year.

Boxoffice of October 26, 1957, reported that the Rodgers circuit had announced that their Lincoln Theatre at Cairo would be closed “…for an indefinite period.” I haven’t found any later mentions of the Lincoln in Boxoffice.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on May 8, 2010 at 2:51 pm

Thanks agin Joe.

bbrown1
bbrown1 on August 27, 2011 at 8:42 pm

In the photo above, the Lincoln is showing a movie released in 1948, which would seem to confirm that the Rodgers became the Lincoln in 1947.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on June 30, 2024 at 8:47 am

This was demolished sometime between 2013 and 2023.

Bruce C.
Bruce C. on June 30, 2024 at 6:51 pm

The building was still standing in 2016 when I visited (see my photo in the Photos tab). The Google street view from September 2023 shows a pile of rubbish where the building once stood.

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