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Virginia Theatre (Champaign)
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Theatre is a live performance and movie theatre in downtown Champaign, Illinois
. It has been providing theatrical and cinematic entertainment to the Champaign-Urbana community since its doors opened in 1921. Each year, the Virginia Theatre is host to movies from film reels, plays from various acting troupes, concerts, and Ebertfest, presented by the UIUC College of Media. It is currently owned by the Champaign Park District
.
and The Boat
were shown at the theatre. Since then, it has been presenting movies, live concerts, and plays to the Champaign-Urbana community and has only been closed for short periods of renovation by the Park District. Until recently, the Virginia Theatre was privately owned. From the 1930s to the 1960s, RKO pictures held ownership. Subsequently, George Kerasotes Corporation (GKC Theatres) owned the building until the Champaign Park District purchased it in January 2000.
Company installed a theatre organ
to provide musical accompaniment for silent films. That 2/8 (two keyboard, eight ranks of pipes) instrument was removed by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders of Champaign in December 2010 for renovation, and it is expected to be reinstalled in the Fall of 2011.
to cult favorites like The Big Lebowski
. Tickets to each of two screenings are 5 dollars and there is also a raffle to win a DVD of the movie being played. Some months have themes reflecting the holidays, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Halloween. There is also College and Kids night.
Beginning a few years ago, the Champaign Park District began hosting "Reel Deals" at the Virginia Theatre. Showing newer releases, Reel Deals are shown for $3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays on an irregular schedule.
From 1992 until 2010, the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company, or CUTC, performed plays at the theatre.
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
. It has been providing theatrical and cinematic entertainment to the Champaign-Urbana community since its doors opened in 1921. Each year, the Virginia Theatre is host to movies from film reels, plays from various acting troupes, concerts, and Ebertfest, presented by the UIUC College of Media. It is currently owned by the Champaign Park District
Champaign Park District
The Champaign Park District is the municipality association responsible for the award-winning parks in the city of Champaign, Illinois. With over 500 acres of parkland within the city limits, Champaign has one of the highest ratios of park land to developed land of any American city.- West Side...
.
History
The Virginia Theatre opened December 28, 1921 with a live stage performance of "The Bat". The following night, the silent films Tol'able DavidTol'able David
Tol'able David is a 1921 American silent film based on the Joseph Hergesheimer short story. It was adapted to the screen by Edmund Goulding and directed by Henry King for Inspiration Pictures....
and The Boat
The Boat (film)
The Boat is a 1921 short comedy film written by, directed and starring Buster Keaton. The International Buster Keaton Society takes its name, The Damfinos, from this film.-Plot:...
were shown at the theatre. Since then, it has been presenting movies, live concerts, and plays to the Champaign-Urbana community and has only been closed for short periods of renovation by the Park District. Until recently, the Virginia Theatre was privately owned. From the 1930s to the 1960s, RKO pictures held ownership. Subsequently, George Kerasotes Corporation (GKC Theatres) owned the building until the Champaign Park District purchased it in January 2000.
Restoration
A major part of the Virginia Theatre is its restoration. In December 1999, the Champaign Park District received a $900,000 grant from the State of Illinois to restore the then run-down theatre. Extensive work was done to bring the building up to current code, most of it not visible to the general public. In 2000, the curved movie screen that had been in place for decades was replaced with a smaller screen (50-foot wide viewable image) which can be flown offstage. Additional restrooms were completed in 2001. Box office renovation, dressing room remodeling, and carpet replacement took place in 2002-2003. The east lobby/storefront was remodeled during 2007, and the main lobbies and concession stand were renovated and redecorated in 2010, thanks to a considerable donation from the late Michael Carragher. The decaying 1930's-era neon marquee was removed from the theatre on November 16, 2010, and it will be replaced with a newly-designed marquee, in spite of opposition from many community members and historic preservation advocates.Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ
In 1921, the Rudolph WurlitzerWurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
Company installed a theatre organ
Theatre organ
A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....
to provide musical accompaniment for silent films. That 2/8 (two keyboard, eight ranks of pipes) instrument was removed by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders of Champaign in December 2010 for renovation, and it is expected to be reinstalled in the Fall of 2011.
Events
The Virginia Theatre hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. One weekend a month, classic movies are played on a 56-foot wide screen. These movies range from 1940's movies such as White ChristmasWhite Christmas (film)
White Christmas is a 1954 Technicolor musical film starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that features the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular "White Christmas"...
to cult favorites like The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski
The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Jeff Bridges stars as Jeff Lebowski, an unemployed Los Angeles slacker and avid bowler, who is referred to as "The Dude". After a case of mistaken identity, The Dude is introduced to a millionaire also named...
. Tickets to each of two screenings are 5 dollars and there is also a raffle to win a DVD of the movie being played. Some months have themes reflecting the holidays, such as Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Halloween. There is also College and Kids night.
Beginning a few years ago, the Champaign Park District began hosting "Reel Deals" at the Virginia Theatre. Showing newer releases, Reel Deals are shown for $3 on Tuesdays and Thursdays on an irregular schedule.
From 1992 until 2010, the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company, or CUTC, performed plays at the theatre.