Lincoln Theatre

329 S. 5th Street,
Springfield, IL 62701

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Fox Midwest Theatres, Frisina Amusement Company

Firms: Bullard & Bullard

Styles: Neo-Classical

Previous Names: Princess Theatre, Fox Theatre

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News About This Theater

Mar 2, 2010 — Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music"

Along with the former Majestic Theatre (better known as the Roxy Theatre), the Princess Theatre was one of the earlier legitimate theatres opened on Springfield’s 5th Street, in 1884, the same year as the Majestic Theatre.

Later, like the Majestic Theatre, the Princess Theatre switched to vaudeville, and after that, to movies.

By the 1920’s, it was renamed the Fox Theatre and was operated by Fox Midwest Theatres, and on November 29, 1928 it was renamed Lincoln Theatre and operated by the Frisina Amusement Co.

When it closed in 1976, the Lincoln Theatre had been screening adult fare for several years.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Joe Vogel on June 1, 2012 at 12:54 am

The December 22, 1928, issue of Motion Picture News said that Dominick Fresna had opened the remodeled Princess Theatre at Springfield, Illinois, as the Lincoln Theatre on Thanksgiving Day.

cardsfans15 on September 6, 2012 at 6:48 pm

does anyone have any pictures of the inside of this theater? i’m interested in the kind of lighting they used.

Joe Vogel on October 10, 2012 at 4:43 am

Considering the history of this theater given above, I’m a bit puzzled by this item from the April 11, 1914, issue of The Moving Picture World:

“Remodeling of the Unity Building at the corner of Fifth street and Capitol avenue, to be used as the home of the new Princess Moving Picture Theater, has begun.”

Matthew Prigge on November 9, 2012 at 6:53 pm

If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at Thanks!

Joe Vogel on November 27, 2014 at 9:38 pm

The April 3, 1920 issue of Motion Picture News said that the Princess Theatre in Springfield, Illinois (though the headline mistakenly identified the city as Springfield, Massachusetts) was being expanded and remodeled with plans by the architectural firm of Bullard & Bullard. A Web page about the firm reveals that they were also the original architects of the building.