Normal Theater - Normal, IL
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Normal Theater - Normal, IL
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The Normal Theater’s striking Art Deco architectural style and marquee make it one of the most photographed buildings in Normal, Illinois.
The Normal Theater was built in 1937 and was the first movie theater constructed in Bloomington-Normal, specifically for sound films. With seating for 620, the Normal was known for genre and “B” pictures, especially westerns and musicals, as well as second-run fare.
Built by the Kupfer family, they owned it until the early 1980s when Kerasotes purchased it. It was in pretty rough shape by 1990 when it closed. The town of Normal purchased the theater and began fundraising efforts to restore it. It took about $1 million in federal grants, donations, and tax dollars for the total restoration, finally reopening in 1994.
The restoration project made the Normal Theater one of the more honored buildings in downstate Illinois. The theater was designated a Local Landmark in 1991. The town of Normals received the “Preservation Project of the Year” award from the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois for their work on the Normal Theater in 1996. Finally, in 1997, the theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
August 3rd, 2022
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Viewed 1,567 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/27/2024 at 8:45 PM
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