Arcada Theater Building
Encyclopedia
The Arcada Theatre Building is a Registered Historic Place
in St. Charles
, Illinois
, USA. The theatre was opened on Labor Day
, September 6, 1926, presenting a silent movie and live vaudeville
acts. Except for brief periods of renovation, it has remained open, providing entertainment through today.
Upon the Arcada’s grand opening, the public came in such large numbers that hundreds were unable to gain entrance. Chicagoans arrived by a special railway car to see the featured film "The Last Frontier" and the Vaudeville acts of Fibber McGee and Molly Lora. Patrons also heard a recital on the famous $25,000 Marr and Colton silver and red organ, which was adorned with carved flamingos.
The Arcada became known as one of the outstanding Vaudeville houses in the Fox River Valley. Many legendary stars have graced the stage, including George Burns and Gracie Allen, Judy Garland, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Olivia DeHavilland, the John Phillip Sousa Band, Liberace, Mitzi Gaynor, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Vincent Price, Carol Channing, Jeanette MacDonald, Walter Slezak and the Von Trapp Family Singers.
In May 2005, historic preservationist Ron Onesti, president of http://www.oshows.com The Onesti Entertainment Corporation (OEC), assumed ownership of theatre operations. As a producer of entertainment experiences across the U.S., OEC brought “Big City” shows to the western suburbs of Chicago. Onesti, who also owns a historic landmark property at 18 N. 4th Street, St. Charles, (http://www.onestidinnerclub.com Onesti Dinner Club) has reported investing more than $100,000 in dressing room renovations, and repairs and paint. Upgrades to the sound system, lighting, stage and rest room facilities were also added. Onesti Entertainment exclusively books the talent and produces all the shows.
Today, the Arcada Theatre is a 900-seat venue and features the original pipe organ that rises from within the stage floor. Iconic stars including Mickey Rooney, Jerry Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, and Martin Short have been among recent headliners. The theatre is also a resource for community groups and local performers who utilize the venue for their events. .
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in St. Charles
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, USA. The theatre was opened on Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
, September 6, 1926, presenting a silent movie and live vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
acts. Except for brief periods of renovation, it has remained open, providing entertainment through today.
History
The Arcada Theatre was built in 1926 by local millionaire and Chicago Tribune cartoonist Lester J. Norris. The new theatre was a $500,000 example of the Norris family’s confidence in the future of St. Charles. With only 5,000 residents in the town, more than 1,009 seats were installed.Upon the Arcada’s grand opening, the public came in such large numbers that hundreds were unable to gain entrance. Chicagoans arrived by a special railway car to see the featured film "The Last Frontier" and the Vaudeville acts of Fibber McGee and Molly Lora. Patrons also heard a recital on the famous $25,000 Marr and Colton silver and red organ, which was adorned with carved flamingos.
The Arcada became known as one of the outstanding Vaudeville houses in the Fox River Valley. Many legendary stars have graced the stage, including George Burns and Gracie Allen, Judy Garland, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Olivia DeHavilland, the John Phillip Sousa Band, Liberace, Mitzi Gaynor, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Vincent Price, Carol Channing, Jeanette MacDonald, Walter Slezak and the Von Trapp Family Singers.
In May 2005, historic preservationist Ron Onesti, president of http://www.oshows.com The Onesti Entertainment Corporation (OEC), assumed ownership of theatre operations. As a producer of entertainment experiences across the U.S., OEC brought “Big City” shows to the western suburbs of Chicago. Onesti, who also owns a historic landmark property at 18 N. 4th Street, St. Charles, (http://www.onestidinnerclub.com Onesti Dinner Club) has reported investing more than $100,000 in dressing room renovations, and repairs and paint. Upgrades to the sound system, lighting, stage and rest room facilities were also added. Onesti Entertainment exclusively books the talent and produces all the shows.
Today, the Arcada Theatre is a 900-seat venue and features the original pipe organ that rises from within the stage floor. Iconic stars including Mickey Rooney, Jerry Lewis, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, and Martin Short have been among recent headliners. The theatre is also a resource for community groups and local performers who utilize the venue for their events. .