Boxing, Wrestling, and Road Shows

A few entrepreneurs had experimented with opening storefront movie theatres in both Champaign and Urbana prior to the opening of the Illinois.  In Champaign, the Varsity opened in 1906 and became quite successful.  A couple other storefront theatres in Champaign, the Illinois Vaudeville and the College, were short-lived and were soon purchased by the Varsity.  Other early moving picture theatres in Urbana included the Novelty (1906), Theatorium, and Urbana Varsity.  None of these lasted very long.  In Champaign, the Crystal (Neil) opened in 1910, and the much more successful Lyric opened in 1911 and lasted until 1921.

Larger theatres were opened in the teens.  In Champaign, the Park was a purpose-built, freestanding moving picture theatre that opened in 1913.  Just across Church Street, the Belvoir (later renamed the Rialto) was a very large theatre for road shows and movies that was built into most of the ground-floor space in the adjacent Russell and Mayfield buildings in 1915.  The New Orpheum was built in 1914.  It specialized in vaudeville, but also showed films, typically a one-reeler after the live vaudeville acts.  In Urbana, the Colonial was another purpose-built, freestanding moving picture theatre that opened within weeks of the Park in 1913. It had good success for a few years then waned.  The Princess, for moving pictures, was created out of two storefronts in the Busey Block.  It opened in 1915 and was quite successful for decades.  All these were competing with the Illinois for patrons.  Then at the end of 1921, the Virginia, booking both road shows and moving pictures, opened as a major competitor.

A series of management changes began at the end of 1914.  Marcus Heiman had opened the Champaign Orpheum, so did not renew his lease of the Illinois.  At that point, Joseph F. Kuechler was the Illinois Theater manager.  He moved to the Empress Theatre in Decatur. 1

paul prehn illio1929 ED.jpg

Paul Prehn

(from 1929 Illio)

1915

One of the earliest times a wrestling match was held at the Illinois was September 2, 1915.  Many more were held many times over the next years.  They were almost all promoted by University of Illinois wrestling coach Paul Prehn who was even a contestant in some.  This continued after the Zenith Amusement Company took over the Illinois in November 1923.  At that time, Prehn & Brown (his wrestling promotor partner) had a contract to stage eight boxing matches and Zenith would honor those contracts.  A new contract was entered into the following year despite opposition by some board members.  It was different though in January 1925.  The election of a new board changed the majority to those opposed, so the contract was not renewed. 2

Sidney Cohen ED.jpg

Sidney N. Cohen

(scan from Elk's program, 1910)

1916

Captain Sidney N. Cohen was a member of a musically talented family.  He was the eldest son of Nat and Addie Cohen and brother to Sol and Julius Cohen.

In its 5 January 1916 edition, The Urbana Daily Courier reported that the Illinois Theatre Company had named Captain Cohen as manager of the theatre.  Cohen, along with Garrett H. Baker, Illinois treasurer, had gone to Chicago to book attractions for the remainder of the season.  They were looking to bring several first-class stock companies to the Illinois.  Captain Cohen would manage the Illinois as a side-line, continuing to operate his real estate and insurance business. 3

1918

The Illinois Theatre’s 1918-19 season opened Saturday night, 23 November 1918 with “Over There.”  J. Byron McCormick who had managed the theatre in 1915 was back as manager.  A story in The Champaign Daily News announced that an entirely new heating plant had been installed.  Automobile parking would be available on the ground between the theatre and the Flatiron Building and the street car line managers have assured Mr. McCormick that plenty of cars would be available for Champaign patrons. 4

The story included eight other attractions Mr. McCormick had booked for the season including Maude Adams in “A Kiss For Cinderella,” and Otis Skinner in his latest play. 5

19181119tu_TUDC_pg04_Illinois Theater ad_scene from Over There.jpeg

Scan from The Urbana Daily Courier, 19 November 1918 showing a scene from Over There.

1919

“That the Illinois Theatre is assured of the best there is in the way of attractions next year.”  is how The Urbana Daily Courier began their story on 5 June 1919, in which they reported the announcement that the Illinois had contracted with Klaw & Erlinger and Shubert to book the theatre for the upcoming season. 6

In late August, The Champaign Daily Gazette reported that the Illinois would open for the season on Monday September 1, 1919.  The Illinois was now managed by the K.M.W. Amusement Co., with A.F. Blasé as local manager.  Edward J. Morgan, the secretary and vice president of the company, had been in town helping Mr. Blasé supervise the work of preparing the theatre for the season including redecorating and relighting.  The Gazette reported that he had “just come here from Chicago where for some time he has been connected with the Riviera theater.  He has been in the theater business all his life and comes well equipped to give Urbana and Champaign a thoroughly up-to-date amusement house.” 7

The policy for the season called for no dark nights, as “an excellent program of the best motion pictures is to be provided” on evenings without a road show.  The article listed twenty-three shows already booked including “Maytime,” and some of the well-known performers included Maude Adams, Mrs. Fiske, May Robinson, Ruth Chatterton, Nora Bates, and the Dolly Sisters. 8

A new amenity for patrons wishing to drive their automobile to the theatre was that parking would be available in the large vacant lot between the theatre and the Flat Iron building.  The lot entrance was on Main Street, and a watchman would be on duty during performances. 9

allen j duncan photo ed.jpg

Allen J. Duncan

(scan from newspaper microfilm)

1920

Alan J. Duncan of Champaign leased the Illinois Theatre according to a story in The Urbana Daily Courier of 15 January 1920.  Duncan had once been stage manager of the Walker Opera House and, for the past 12 years, was stage manager of the Orpheum Theatre.  His plan was to open February 10 with the popular New York production of “Maytime.”  Duncan said: “From now on there will be nothing but the best offered at the Illinois.  Everything that savors of cheapness will be eliminated.  The Twin City people are to be given absolutely the best in dramatics and I believe they will appreciate the fact.  All my bookings will be first class – not some good and some otherwise, as formerly.” 10

The Urbana Daily Courier reported in its April 22, 1920, edition that “M. W. Busey, at a master’s sale this morning purchased the Illinois Theater for $18,733.66, to take a decree of foreclosure for $10,365.31 and judgement for $7,488.30, both held by Busey’s bank.”  Mr. Busey was the only bidder and he planned to lease the Illinois for theatrical purposes.  The Illinois Theatre company had the right to redeem the property within 15 months. 11

Boxing, Wrestling, and Road Shows