In 1914 Thomas A. Reid and Theodore Yemm built the Grand Theatre and eventually joined forces with Du Quoin opera house owner W.R. Hayes. Reid, Yemm, and Hayes built a chain of 19 theaters in nine Southern Illinois cities. In 1929 Fox West Coast purchased the Grand and the other 18 movie houses for $1.5 million.
Fox West Coast went bankrupt and the chain fell back into the hands of the original owners – then known as the Du Quoin Theater Corp. – in 1933. A short time later the concern was acquired by Fox Illinois Theater Co.
Fifteen years later Fox sold the Grand to Albert and Alta Spargur of Du Quoin in 1959. The couple operated the theater until 1966 when it was purchased by Kerasotes Illinois Theaters. Kerasotes sold the Grand to Arthur Taylor Jr. and Michael Fisher in 1981.
The ownership era by these local 20-somethings was brief and the Du Quoin State Bank took over after a few months. Bill Ivy bought the Grand in late-1981. He had a 25-year run of success before a stroke in 2005.
He died in 2006 and the Grand was dark a short time before it was rescued by the Richard Baker family and reopened in early-summer 2006. It closed Sept. 15, 2015.
Rick Vavro purchased the Grand Aug. 23, 2018 via an online auction conducted by a firm from Georgia.
Operated by Fox Midwest Theatres from 1966 to 1973, Mann Theatres from 1973 to July 1982, Wehrenberg Theatres from July 1982 to May 1984, and finally Kerasotes Theatres from May 18, 1984 to its closing in 2001. Not long after Kerasotes took ownership they rebuilt the Fox Eastgate into a triplex on December 19, 1985.
The Sparta closed on December 28, 1986 on account of slumping business. It was heavily damaged by fire on February 16, 1988 and torn down the following August.
The Rodgers was closed by Kerasotes Theatres at the end of business on May 14, 1998. The theater was replaced by the Showplace 8 that would open the very next day.
A history of the Grand Theatre:
In 1914 Thomas A. Reid and Theodore Yemm built the Grand Theatre and eventually joined forces with Du Quoin opera house owner W.R. Hayes. Reid, Yemm, and Hayes built a chain of 19 theaters in nine Southern Illinois cities. In 1929 Fox West Coast purchased the Grand and the other 18 movie houses for $1.5 million.
Fox West Coast went bankrupt and the chain fell back into the hands of the original owners – then known as the Du Quoin Theater Corp. – in 1933. A short time later the concern was acquired by Fox Illinois Theater Co.
Fifteen years later Fox sold the Grand to Albert and Alta Spargur of Du Quoin in 1959. The couple operated the theater until 1966 when it was purchased by Kerasotes Illinois Theaters. Kerasotes sold the Grand to Arthur Taylor Jr. and Michael Fisher in 1981.
The ownership era by these local 20-somethings was brief and the Du Quoin State Bank took over after a few months. Bill Ivy bought the Grand in late-1981. He had a 25-year run of success before a stroke in 2005.
He died in 2006 and the Grand was dark a short time before it was rescued by the Richard Baker family and reopened in early-summer 2006. It closed Sept. 15, 2015.
Rick Vavro purchased the Grand Aug. 23, 2018 via an online auction conducted by a firm from Georgia.
It will be reopening in October, 2026 by the Evansville, IN based Showplace Cinemas chain as the Showplace 8 Marion.
http://www.kfvs12.com/2026/07/13/showplace-8-marion-set-open-october-2026/
Closed in November 1975.
Address was 114 N. 4th Street.
The Roxy was demolished in 1995 and the site is now occupied by the building for the Coulterville City Hall.
November 28, 1969 grand re-opening ad by Kerasotes posted.
Originally opened in 1966 with a total seating of 750.
Operated by Fox Midwest Theatres from 1966 to 1973, Mann Theatres from 1973 to July 1982, Wehrenberg Theatres from July 1982 to May 1984, and finally Kerasotes Theatres from May 18, 1984 to its closing in 2001. Not long after Kerasotes took ownership they rebuilt the Fox Eastgate into a triplex on December 19, 1985.
The Sparta closed on December 28, 1986 on account of slumping business. It was heavily damaged by fire on February 16, 1988 and torn down the following August.
Operations taken over by Kerasotes Theatres on May 25, 1971. Became a GKC theatre in 1985 and they ultimately closed it on April 3, 1986.
Opened July 6, 1979 Closed January 29, 1998
Theatre was demolished in early 2024. To expand the sales lot of Golden Circle Ford.
Acquired by Kerasotes Theatres in September 1968.
Closed at the beginning of September, 1984. “Flashpoint” was the final movie shown.
Closed December 10, 1999.
The Rodgers was closed by Kerasotes Theatres at the end of business on May 14, 1998. The theater was replaced by the Showplace 8 that would open the very next day.
Expanded to 12 screens January 19, 1990.
Kerasotes Theatres took over ownership of the Toler Cinema on June 19, 1986.
That very screen was recently donated to the Rodgers Theatre in Poplar Bluff.
http://www.kfvs12.com/video/2023/07/18/cape-broadway-theater-screen-donated-poplar-bluff-theater/
This very screen was recently donated to the Rodgers Theatre in Poplar Bluff.
http://www.kfvs12.com/video/2023/07/18/cape-broadway-theater-screen-donated-poplar-bluff-theater/
Now a Harbor Freight Tools store.
The Princess in fact survived the tornado unscathed. It was back in operation a few weeks afterwards
Demolished in December 2010.
Google lists the theater as “Permanently Closed”. After 35 years of operation the end has come for the St. Clair 10.
Became the Southbrook 7 on February 16, 1979.
Some Historical Facts about the Illinois Theatre:
First opened in 1922 as a Vaudeville Theatre.
First movie house in town to show “Talkies” in 1925.
In 1976 BAC renovated the building in blue and silver at a cost of $250,00. It was also at this time the Illinois became a twin.
In 1980 Kerasotes bought the building and operated it as a movie theatre until December 2001.