•February 7, 2018•

By Eden Martin
NP Guest Columnist

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of three columns on movie theater history in Sullivan by former resident and author Eden Martin.

VIII. The Illinois Theatre

Almost immediately after the Jefferson burned, talk began about what would replace it. J.H. Ireland, once a manager of the Jefferson, contemplated opening a new theater on the east side of the square. Art Palmer also looked for a room somewhere he could operate as a movie theater. Sullivan Progress, January 9, 1925.

Then in late January Blaine Maxwell announced that he would open a new movie theatre in the I.O.O.F. building on the south side of the square on February 1. The new theatre had a seating capacity of about 360. Advertisements for the new theatre began to run in early February.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.