Liberty Theater (Murphysboro, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Liberty Theater
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1333 Walnut St., Murphysboro, Illinois |
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| Built | 1913 |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000322 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 2012 |
The Liberty Theater is a really old and special movie theater. You can find it at 1333 Walnut Street in Murphysboro, Illinois. It was first built in 1913 and was called the Tilford Theatre back then. It was one of the very first movie theaters in Murphysboro.
Over the years, this theater changed its name and its look. It got a cool new style in 1938. Even though it stopped showing movies in 1998, it's now open again for fun community events. It's a great example of history still being used today!
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The Liberty Theater: A Historic Movie House
The Liberty Theater started its life in 1913. It was originally known as the Tilford Theatre. This theater was one of the first five movie theaters ever built in Murphysboro. Imagine how exciting it must have been to go to the movies back then!
A New Name and Look
In 1918, the theater's name changed to Liberty Theater. This happened during a time when many people felt very proud of their country because of World War I. The new name showed this strong feeling of patriotism.
Later, in 1938, the theater got a big makeover. It was updated in the Art Deco style. Art Deco was a popular design style from the 1920s and 1930s. It used sleek lines, geometric shapes, and often bright colors.
Art Deco Features
During this makeover, the theater got a bright neon marquee. A marquee is the sign above the entrance that shows what's playing. The outside walls of the building were also covered with shiny black panels called vitrolite. These changes gave the theater a very modern and stylish look for its time.
From Movies to Community Events
The Liberty Theater continued to show movies for many years. It was a popular spot for people to watch films. It kept showing movies until 1998. It was actually the last of the original five theaters in Murphysboro to close its doors.
But the story didn't end there! In 2002, a group of people who wanted to help the community worked to fix up the theater. This group was a "not-for-profit" organization. This means they don't try to make money for themselves. Instead, they use any money they get to help the theater and the community.
Today, the Liberty Theater is a busy place once more. It hosts many different community events. You can also rent it for special occasions. It's a great example of how old buildings can find new life.
A Place in History
Because of its long history and unique style, the Liberty Theater is considered very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 2012. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. Being on this list helps protect the theater for future generations.
