Madison Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Madison Theatre
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 502 Main St., Peoria, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architect | Frederic J. Klein |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001402 |
| Added to NRHP | November 21, 1980 |
The Madison Theatre is a historic building in Peoria, Illinois, United States. It first opened its doors on October 16, 1920. Back then, it was a place to watch silent movies and live shows.
Contents
A Look at the Madison Theatre's Past
How the Theatre Was Built
A person named Dee Robinson asked for this theatre to be built. A local architect from Peoria, Frederick J. Klein, designed it. The outside of the theatre looks like an old Italian Renaissance building. Inside, the walls and the round lobby ceilings have beautiful classical designs. The lobby also has special plasterwork that looks like terra-cotta. This plasterwork frames a big window above the theatre's entrance sign. The theatre is right across the street from the Pere Marquette Hotel.
Early Days of Entertainment
When the Madison Theatre opened in 1920, it was a very popular spot. People came to watch silent films, which were movies without sound. Live stage shows, called vaudeville, were also performed there. The theatre had many seats, about 1,600 in total.
Becoming a Historic Place
Because of its history and special design, the Madison Theatre was added to a list of important buildings. This list is called the National Register of Historic Places. It was added on November 21, 1980. This means it's recognized as a place worth protecting.
Changes Over the Years
The Madison Theatre closed for a while in the 1980s. Later, it reopened as a comedy club. In 1992, it changed again and became a dinner theatre. This meant people could eat while watching a show.
From 1996 to 2002, a company called Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment managed the theatre. During these years, over 200 concerts took place there. Many famous musicians performed, including George Winston, Ray Charles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Creed, REO Speedwagon, Fiona Apple, Todd Rundgren, moe., Govt' Mule, and Mudvayne. The theatre closed its doors again in 2003.
A Fire and Repairs
On June 4, 2016, firefighters were called to the theatre. There was a big fire near the stage area. The fire caused a lot of damage, costing about $500,000 to repair.
After the fire, the City of Peoria checked the building. They wanted to make sure it was safe. By August 2016, most of the important repairs were finished. The city decided not to tear down the building because it was being fixed.
The Theatre's New Chapter
On January 27, 2022, a new group was formed. This non-profit group is called 'The Madison Preservation Association'. They announced that they now own the Madison Theatre. The theatre's longtime owner gave it to them as a gift.
The association planned a big project to fix up the theatre. They estimated it would cost about $30 to $35 million. The goal was to make the theatre look grand again. The first part of the renovation started in the summer or fall of 2022. This involved fixing the shops along Main Street. The full restoration of the theatre building continued through 2023. The project was completed in 2024, and the theatre reopened.
