Eagle Theatre

115 S. Locust Street,
Pana, IL 62557

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dallasmovietheaters
dallasmovietheaters on April 22, 2026 at 4:42 am

Harry Tanner of the Palace Theater announced the new-build Eagle Theatre in 1919. Ir opened March 26, 1920 with a $10,000 Bartola pipe organ and Anita Stewart in “Blind Husbands” supported by simian Mrs. Joe Martin in “Over the Transom” and a “Paramount Magazine” short. Tanner closed on May 12, 1930 unable to make the conversion to sound.

After a single silent booking in 1931, it received a major update by new operators Roy M. Kennedy and Paul Stonum as the Illinois Theatre. The Illinois opened March 12, 1932 with Will Rogers in “Business & Pleasure.” Tanner bought the theatre in the Fall closing it during summer months. The town had three theaters with the opening of the Roseland in 1940. After the War, he retained the Roseland and returned the Illinois Theatre to the Eagle namesake. The venue closed and the building was demolished long after in April of 1973.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 8, 2023 at 9:46 am

Here is an item from the February 11, 1922 Moving Picture World:

“PANA, ILL. — Tanner Amusement Company, 115 South Locust street, has been organized with $20,000 capital by Louis W. Lohr, Walter A. Amling, Lena Tanner.”
The Eagle Theatre itself I’ve found mentioned by name as early as the July 9, 1921 issue of Exhibitors Herald.

SethG
SethG on July 5, 2023 at 5:31 am

I’m pretty sure the address is wrong. The 1925 map shows a theater at 115. It’s not on the 1916 map, and seems to be either a replacement or an extensive remodeling of the building shown on the older map. The building was two stories, so it has either been demolished or cut down. Pana was very depressing, and that whole section of the block is a really awful collection of bad remodeling and decay.

Chris1982
Chris1982 on January 15, 2016 at 11:21 am

Address for this theatre, 113 S. Locust St., Pana, IL 62557. It was located down the street from the Roseland Theatre. The building is still standing and should not be listed as demolished.