New Cuba Theater
108 S. 4th Street,
Cuba,
IL
61427
108 S. 4th Street,
Cuba,
IL
61427
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This theater opened in 1948 on the East Side Square (S. 4th Street), between E. Main Street and E. Jefferson Street, and was Cuba’s second movie house in town after the Fulton Theater closed. The New Cuba Theater was fairly short-lived, closing in 1962.
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Bryan
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
I don’t know that much about it, but it was the New Cuba in 1950.
Don’t think this is demolished. Building in the middle of the block looks like an ex-theater.
1953 Cuba High School yearbook ad lists the owners as Ray Murphy and Russell McConkey.
And the building still exists; address is 108 S. 4th Street.
The New Cuba Theatre opened in November of 1948 according to the trade press by the aforementioned Russell McConkey and Raymond Murphy. The theatre costs $65,000 to construct. McConkey announced a closure of the Cuba Theatre (no “New”) at the half way mark of a 20-year leasing commitment. However, a save the Cuba Theatre protest was successfully launched by the Cubs Senior Women’s Club and Business Association in October and November of 1958.
The Cuba Theatre closed in December 18, 1966 with “The Ghost and Mrs. Chicken.” It was relit once more in 1975 as a country western performance venue. “The Greatest Show on Earth” was the top performer in the history of the venue with Ma & Pa Kettle cumulatively raking in the most money for their series of films. By 1967, the Cuba Theatre had dropped from seven to four to just two days a week of operation as the town’s population was less than 1,500 people.