Midway Theatre

Hi, How would one be able to look around inside, always wanted to understand what the interior was like, especially now. Thanks!

Just looked in the windows today and it’s in pretty bad disrepair. Cracked marble, all painted surfaces are flaking, broken windows, graffiti, and most of the ceiling tiles have fallen out.

I would like to start a Not For Profit “Save the Midway Theatre”. I am willing to put 100% of my passion, persistence, and patents into this project and will go at it full time, so we can get it purchased, up to code, and reopened to hold fundraisers for further restoration.
I will not let this beautiful piece of Rockford’s heritage fall into ruin. We owe it to our future generations. The Midway is just begging to become a community creative and performing center/music venue. Who’s with me?

Yeah, that seems cheap. Not sure what the level of Cheap Trick’s Rick Neilsen was initially going to be. (March 2008)
I believe he is already involved in the development of a giant hotel/entertainment complex in Rockford.
This could be a neat thing for him to pick up to further bolster the other project though. Show financial commitment to restoring the historic, while building the new, etc.
C'mon Rick. You’re all allright!

I went by the building yesterday and it’s for sale.

Here’s the web site:

View link

November 9, 2007 – Battling to save Midway Theater

A local businessman had a plan to restore and reopen the Midway for performing arts. It fell through.

From the Rockford Register Star

February 7, 2008 – Local Businessman makes offer for Midway Theater

March 5, 2008 – Cheap Trick guitarist Nielsen joins Midway effort

April 28, 2008 – Midway Theatre renovation up in air

From the Urban Remains newsletter:

“May 2008 we will begin sal­vaging the midway theater located in rockford, il. The theater was designed by j.e.o pridmore in 1918. the marquee, lobby detail and auditorium plaster will be removed. The building will be converted to condos in late 2008”

Architect was J.E.O. Pridmore

Photo of a crowd waiting to enter the Midway Theatre, January 24, 1932.

How much would it cost to purchase the Midway Theatre? And what would the terms of use/service be for after it has been sold?

Midway Theatre: please respond.

Hi everybody,

I couldn’t help but notice many of you have questions about what has happened or is happening with the Midway. My family has been a previous owner and is now the current owner, so I’d be happy to let you know what’s going on.

My family owned the theater from after the fire in 1980 till 2000, and had to recently take back the theater from “Tommy Boy” in 2006 (he foreclosed). There is another interested party, so it might be changing hands again here in 2007. Current status, for sale with possible sale pending.

So, let me hit on a few features of the interior that make, or made, the Midway special. The auditorium seats 1500 people. Back in its prime when it was operating as a movie theater, it had the 2nd largest indoor screen in the nation. I know some of you remember seeing films there, so I’m sure you can remember what it was like. Unfortunately, that was before my time. Also, the stage is huge (much bigger than the Coronado’s)…it’s a 3500 sqft thrust stage. Just walking inside the auditorium can make you still say “wow”. I always am amazed when I walk in there, and just try to imagine all the people who have ever enjoyed an evening at the Midway.

Many of you wonder why no renovations have taken place and why no shows are going on. It’s simple, before performers can be attracted to the theater, it needs to have some renovations. Back in the 90’s, $14 million was given to the Coronado for some major overhauling. If you have been in that theater since, it is just amazing. It is VERY ornate, so I’m sure that of the 2 theaters, it was decided that the Coronado would be much more of a site to see when finished than the Midway. Of course, I’m sure neighborhoods, seating capacity, and liquor licenses also made a difference. The Midway is seated in a less than desirable area (that seedy motel next door is being torn down by the way, so hopefully something better will go up in it’s place). Plus, if I recall the Coronado has more seating (it has 1 or 2 balconies in addition to its floor space) and a bar off the lobby for those who want some beer or drinks before a show. The Midway has a cafe off the lobby, but it isn’t set up for bar operations. I would imagine the large parking garage across the street from Coronado didn’t hurt anything either! In any case, whatever the reasons were, the Coronado got the grant and the Midway didn’t. While the Friends of the Find Arts have wanted the Midway to be fixed up, they aren’t willing to offer the financial support as they did for the Coronado. We, as owners, do not have the funding either. $14 million would work wonders for the Midway, so until someone with unlimited financial resources comes along, renovations aren’t in the works. Actually, we hosted the RSO for a number of years, but once the Coronado was restored, the symphony moved downtown. The Midway had better accoustics but the Coronado brought in the crowds.

The guy you referred to as “Tommy Boy” I think had grand dreams of turning the Midway into Rockford’s own Apollo (like what goes on at the original in NYC). There were actually 2 guys that owned it…partners. One was somehow teamed up with Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, so I assume he thought she’d be singing there and bringing in the crowds. These guys got in way over their heads with the Midway. They never hosted anything of interest to Rockford’s majority, the preyed on the dreams of Rockford’s low income youth, they didn’t do a single bit of upkeep, and then they got behind in mortgage payments. We had no choice but to take back the theater.

Did you know there was a recording studio in the theater? As far as I know, no one of significant mention has recorded there, but there is always the possibility for someone looking to record artists and have a theater where they can play live shows.

Well, that is about it. I’ll keep checking back on the blog if anyone has other questions. Thank you for your interest in the Midway…I’d love to see it great again as well!

I won’t to post a comment to musichead. Although your post was at least a year ago, I just now found this site because I am interesting in pursuing to help these owners do the right thing within the community and service to the community and its people. If you are doing business by the book, its amazing how blessing flow. However, if you are deceitful in doing so, then your chances of seeing blessing are lock. This is a beautiful historical building and its a shame that it is wasted on little or no entertainment, services, product, etc. I won’t to contact the owners and seriously see where they won’t to go in future endeavors. Pursuing a music career is a good thing providing its done on the bases of corporate governance, whereas “ensuring that the business complies with all required regulations, and standards on an ongoing basis; ensure that the quality of product and service is provided with the highest quality and standard;satisfy customers needs and meet compliance requirements;Integrate value and worth within the community but first start with the business; These are just minimum good governance pract for small business. There are a lot of good post here, I hope the owners read them.

The fire that led to the theater being shut down occurred in the Summer of 1980; the last film shown here was “Caddyshack”. The posters for the movie remained on display outside the theater’s entrance for what seemed like a couple years. I remember driving past this theater with my family on weekend trips to Rockford during this time period and I would always strain to see if the posters had come down yet.