Roxana Cine

400 N. Central Avenue,
Roxana, IL 62084

Unfavorite 1 person favorited this theater

Related Websites

Nazarene Community Center (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: B-A-C Theatres, Kerasotes Theatres

Architects: Oliver William Steigemeyer

Functions: Community Center, Live Performances, Special Events

Previous Names: Roxana Theatre, BAC Cine

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 618.254.0325

Nearby Theaters

Roxana Cine

The Roxana Theatre was opened on September 1, 1941 with Bing Crosby & Bob Hope in “Road to Singapore”. Although the Roxana Theatre survived a tornado in 1949 (which tore the roof off the building), competition ultimately proved to be a far greater threat.

The Roxana Cine showed its final film in February 2002 as Kerasotes Theatres closed the old movie house after six decades of delighting local audiences.

The theatre, which had been charging $2.50 per ticket, was no longer turning a profit.

The Roxana Cine is now used as a community center owned by a next-door church and presents live performances.

Contributed by Cinema Treasures

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

tommorow123
tommorow123 on May 8, 2004 at 12:21 pm

This theatar is now owned by a church which is next door and is used for plays, dinner theaters and such.

mmiller
mmiller on March 22, 2005 at 7:00 pm

The theatre was once used for live shows early in its life. The backstage area still had evidence of this in the early 1980’s. The theatre also had an apartment upstairs where the early owners lived. This apartment had a viwing room where the shows could be watched from behind a window. I believe the theatre sat around 450 people in the early 80’s. It was a nice old place with many interesting features not found in modern theatres.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on March 14, 2009 at 4:59 pm

Here is an 11/19/49 item from the Alton Evening Telegraph:

The Roxana Theater will reopen Sundayâ€"and thereby will culminate a long, hard and successful fight against discouragement by Mr. and Mrs., Albert Critchlow, owners and operators of the motion-picture theater. Last May 21, when a tornado struck Wood River and a section of Roxana, the theater was badly damaged. The roof was blown off, and the theater was extensively damaged otherwise. Mr. and Mrs. Critchlow started as soon as possible on the job of rebuilding the theater. Delays now and then were discouraging, but they persevered. A new roof was constructed, other damage was repaired.

While the work was under way, Mr. and Mrs. Critchlow decided to add improvements to their popular theater. A new lounge has been added, and other alterations made. The theater has been completely redecorated. The result is that, the spacious Roxana is among the most beautiful and commoditious (sic) theaters in this section.

The reopening has been set for 1 p.m. Sunday. Programmed is a double featureâ€"Clark Gable and Alex Smith in “Any Number Can Play” and Loretta Young and Van Johnson in “Mother Is a Freshman.” Mr, and Mrs. Critchlow formerly operated the Temple Theater in Alton. They opened the Roxana Theater on Sept. 1, 1940, and operated continuously until last May, when the tornado struck.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on February 16, 2010 at 6:28 am

Boxoffice of November 4, 1939, said that Albert Critchlow’s new theater at Roxana was being designed by St. Louis architect Oliver W. Stiegemeyer.

A 1949 Boxoffice item about the post-tornado repairs to the house said that, prior to opening the Roxana, Mr. and Mrs. Critchlow had operated the Temple Theatre in Alton, Illinois.

JoeCameo
JoeCameo on March 16, 2010 at 6:50 pm

The link referred to above which states that Kerasotes bought the theatre from BAC in 1992 is incorrect. Kerasotes purchased the theatre from BAC in 1987 and operated it until its closing.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 12, 2016 at 12:01 pm

September 27th, 1968 grand opening ad as BAC Ciné in photo section.

dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on April 8, 2020 at 5:55 am

The Roxana Theatre originally opened on September 1, 1941 with “The Road to Singapore,” “Shooting High,” a cartoon and various short subjects.

You must login before making a comment.

New Comment

Subscribe Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.