Meadowview Theater
55 Meadowview Center,
Kankakee,
IL
60901
55 Meadowview Center,
Kankakee,
IL
60901
3 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Classic Cinemas (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Classic Cinemas
Architects: Hans Teichert
Firms: Footlik-Rose Associates
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
815.936.6843
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
Since opening on July 14, 1967, the Meadowview Theater has always been a clean, lovely and wholesome cinema to enjoy with the entire family, as will many future generations to come.
Originally a single screen theatre seating 840, it has an interior designed by Chicago interior designer Hans Teichert. It is tasteful, yet attractively decorated; immaculate, yet innocently provocative; conservative, yet aesthetically rich. The warmth one feels in this jewel of an All-American, hometown theatre is heart-felt and nothing short of memorable.
It has proudly stood the test of time and gracefully remains as charming today as the day it opened.
In 1975 a second auditorium was built next to the original one, and then in the 1980’s the original auditorium was split into two screens. It features first run movies with its sister theatre, the 5-screen Paramount Theatre located about a mile away. By 2021 it was a 7-screen theatre.
Contributed by
Meredith Rhule
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
I applaud Willis, Shirley and Chris Johnson, owners of the Classic Cinema theater chain. This family thrives on rebuilding, redefining and rejuvenating old downtown movie theaters and breathes new life into them while allowing the precious personality of each cinema to shine through as it originally had been intended.
By restoring, preserving and protecting the gleam and glitter of our proud movie palaces, the Johnsons have fashioned a means of expression by which to reinforce hope in the significant strengths within our souls and commemorate character throughout our communities.
It is in the seclusion of a beautiful movie palace, much like the solitude of a public library or the sanctity of a religious institution, that one can be awakened, conditioned, motivated, nurtured and united.
The Johnsons should serve as an inspiration to us all. We can only trust by their gracious examples that others shall learn to bequeath respect to the inner beauty of their own, hometown, cinema treasures.
Imagine, if every community had a Willis, Shirley and Chris Johnson.
Please visit their website below and view their palaces.
http://www.classiccinemas.com
Meredith, you are a sentimental sap, but then again so am I!
so true… so true… Saps knows me! He actually knows me!
Did AMC run this at some point or did classic just borrow the “Theatre” sign from another site?
The sign was there when the theatre opened. I was the first projectionist and it was my first full-time job as a projectionist. I was there from 1967 until January of 1974 when I left to become Head Projectionist at Radio City Music Hall (a slightly larger venue!) The theatre was built by L&M Theatres and was their first new shopping center threatre. They also ran the classic Rialto in Joliet at the time. Later Bob Bachman, who was President of L&M bought the Meadowview and the downtown Town Theatre, and was responsible for the eventual tripling of the Meadowview. The original sign had “Meadowview Theater” (a spelling Bob Bachman and I both questioned) on top, and the whole attraction board below was for one screen. For several years after I left I made an annual visit back to have lunch with Bob who gave me a fantastic insight into film booking. I’m glad to see that Classic Cinemas have taken such good care of the Meadowview and the Paramount. (It’s hard to believe that 45 years have elapsed since I first walked into that booth while the theatre was still under construction!)
I should add that the sign I was referring to with the “theater” spelling was the one in the parking lot, not the one on the theatre canopy itself. That one must have been added by Classic, since it wasn’t there the last time I was there sometime after the addition to the right was added.
It is now a 7 screen theater
https://www.daily-journal.com/life/entertainment/paramount-meadowview-to-reopen-thursday/article_849f95c0-9bc5-11eb-bdbd-d3956e8f015a.html
“ Meadowview now has seven newly renovated auditoriums”