Illini Theater
51-53 Main Street,
Champaign,
IL
61820
51-53 Main Street,
Champaign,
IL
61820
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This interesting video tells the history and shows rare photos of the Illini Theatre;
View link
Interesting photos.
I remember passing that sad little theater a few times in the 70s when I was in
grad school at the Uof I. Funny, in a year and a half, I only made it to downtown
Champaign two or three times.
Ken MC – thanks for the photo. Looking at those cars though, I’d say that one
was taken in the 50s, not the 60s.
Interesting b&w shot from the fifties:
http://tinyurl.com/yaeecz6
Here is a photo circa 1960s:
http://tinyurl.com/cqhybk
Their website has some good virtual tours of the various interior spaces. The original ornate pressed-tin ceiling is still intact. It was a fairly long and narrow theater. The triangular marquee is still there, redecorated. The rest of the original decorations are all gone, all new elements and some bare brick. It’s quite a fancy place now.
This is now a bar and very popular venue called the High Dive, with a bar and seating area in the west half of the building and the stage and dancing area in the east.