Fischer Theatre facts for kids
Front of the theatre
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| Address | 158-164 North Vermilion Street Danville, Illinois United States |
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| Coordinates | 40°07′40″N 87°37′49″W / 40.12774°N 87.63030°W |
| Owner | Vermilion Heritage Foundation |
| Construction | |
| Opened | April 1884 |
| Closed | January 5, 1982 |
| Reopened | 2019 |
| Website | |
| https://www.fischertheatre.com | |
The Fischer Theatre is a historic building in Danville, Illinois. It first opened its doors in 1884. Back then, it was known as the Grand Opera House. This beautiful theatre has a long and interesting history. It has changed names and purposes over the years. Today, it stands as a symbol of Danville's past and future.
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Early Days of the Theatre
The Fischer Theatre first opened on November 5, 1884. It was built to be a grand opera house. The building itself cost a lot of money to construct. In 1912, the theatre got a big makeover. It reopened on March 13, 1913, with a new name: the Fischer Theatre. This name honored a person on its governing board.
From Stage Plays to Movies
In 1929, the theatre changed again. It added special equipment to show movies. The outside of the building also got a new look. Apartments and shops were added to the front. During the silent movie era, a large pipe organ played music. This music helped tell the story on screen. In 1971, the theatre was sold. It became part of the Kerasotes Theatres chain.
Seating for Everyone
When it first opened, the theatre could hold about 900 people. This included seats on the main floor, a mezzanine, a balcony, and special box seats. When Kerasotes Theatres took over in 1971, new seats were put in. The main floor then had space for 600 people.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1982, the Fischer Theatre closed its doors. The company that owned it removed many parts of the building. They then gave the building to the city of Danville. By 1997, the theatre was in bad shape. It was thought to be unsafe and was planned to be torn down.
Community Steps In
Luckily, a group called Danville's Old Town Preservation Association stepped in. They wanted to save the historic building. They convinced the city to give the theatre to their group. In 1998, this association sold the building. It was bought by the Vermilion Heritage Foundation. This foundation worked hard to save the theatre.
A New Chapter Begins
For a while, the theatre was closed to events. This was because of high costs for upkeep. The Vermilion Heritage Foundation wanted to focus on raising money. They aimed for a full restoration of the building. In August 2018, a local helper named Julius W. Hegeler II got involved. He gave a large donation to help with the renovation. The project started with a new roof. Then, the brick outside was repaired. Soon, the inside of the building was also included in the big renovation plan.
A Reopened Landmark
The Fischer Theatre officially reopened in 2019. It is now a beautiful place for performances and events once more. The theatre is also on the List of Registered Historic Places in Illinois. This means it is an important part of history.
