The Madison Theater {Updated}
Earlier this year I was afforded the opportunity to tour the innards of the Madison Theater which showed its last film in 1983. It hosted a string of concerts thereafter, but has sat empty since 2003 when the city shut it down for safety concerns. The Madison was designed by architect Frederick J. Klein, who also designed the Apollo, Rialto, Peoria High School, Bradley Park’s Japanese Bridge, South Park (Trewyn) Pavillion, and the First National Bank Building (commonly called the Commerce Bank building) among others. It opened on October, 16 1920 with a seating capacity of just over 1,700 and was the last of the grand opera houses to be built in Peoria. The Madison was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1980.
“Designed with an Italian Renaissance exterior and neo-classical interior, the Madison originally hosted both vaudeville acts and silent films, but switched to sound by the late 20s. [owner Dee] Robinson featured annual Christmas shows at the Madison for which children were admitted free of charge. After he died, the practice continued into the 50s. The auditorium features a high domed ceiling with classical-inspired plasterwork decorating both the ceiling and side walls. The ceiling of the theater’s lobby is also domed, and its facade features extensive terra-cotta work, with a triple-arched window over the marquee.” – Cinema Treasures.
“Few theaters outside of New York and Chicago are larger than the Madison; none are more beautiful, according to architectural and theatrical experts who have been flocking to Peoria to see the new theater.” – Peoria Star via the book Peoria Entertainment by Monica Vest Wheeler.
“The dome of the auditorium consists of concentric circles, each one smaller and more detailed in its plaster relief work. The dome is surrounded by a coved cornice that conceals lights that play on the dome. The outer-most circle in the dome was 21 sculptured plaques, each plaque having a different human, bird, or animal figure in relief. Next, a series of garlands link all these together and tie them to a second circle of deeply set rosettes. The next circle is set off with a small circular molding out of which 21 fans are mounted. Another circle with small medalians and continuous garlands culminates in the center rosette from which hung a chandelier. The balcony front is a continuous design of alternating panels with wedgewood type figures and arabesques with a central winged maiden.” – National Registry of Historic Places Nomination Form.
“The dormant Madison Theater may someday become a music destination under the new ownership of Al Zuccarini and his partner, Jay Abraham of Joe Abraham & Sons Vending and Amusements. They recently bought nearly all the properties on the other side of the street, 500 Main St. to 514 Main St., plus the adjacent Madison Theater at 107 NE Madison Avenue.” – Peoria Journal Star, July 14, 2008.
I have under good authority found out that the Madison is going to be saved and will finally undergo extensive remodeling and renovation. The new tenent may not be popular with everyone, but at least the Madison will not go the way of the historic Springdale Cemetery Gatehouse which after years of neglect has deteriorated to the point that it will soon be demolished. I’m told the new tenent will be none other than Big Al’s.
Update: As I commented here, I was told that this could merely be a temporary home for Big Al’s. If you’ll recall, Big Al’s needs to move to make room for the soon to be expanded Pere. The hotel won’t be built for a year or two, but it can’t even start until they tear down the portion of Main where Al’s resides. The new owners of the Pere want Big Al’s to go far far away and there is a apparently a lot of money at stake on both sides, so this could quite possibly be a temporary home for Al’s and ultimately a great thing for Peoria.
Best case scenario: The Madison is rehabbed and brought up to code, Big Al’s is there for a year or two before moving a few blocks away when a more suitable location is found, and the Madison turns back into some sort of concert or fine arts venue.
Worst case scenario: Big Al’s rehabs the Madison and stays there, but at least it won’t rot into the ground.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Great post!
March 30th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I wonder if they could retrofit an iMax into the Madison?
March 30th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
On second thought… no. That place is too beautiful for that. I can’t believe some theatre or arts group of some sort hasn’t sought that place out. How big is that stage?
March 30th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Those pics are amazing, when you got to the punch line about it becoming Big Als my internal monologue was:
Oh man I will have to go see this. Wait did I just think that, me at a strip club? Hahaha, I think I just got excited about visiting a strip club. Funny, I never got this excited about the new museum. What does this say about me? Wait what does this say about the new museum?”
March 30th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Please tell me this is a joke.
I want it back to the days of Fiona Apple, Toad the Wet Sprocket, etc.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
This is the final nail in the downtown Peoria coffin of possible “class.”
Peoria should never have allowed the Madison to get as bad as its gotten. Of course, this is also the same Peoria that allowed the Palace and Rialto to get torn down.
Only in Peoria would the last great movie theatre house be allowed to become a damned strip club. Al, you are a slime.
March 31st, 2009 at 8:09 am
I didn’t measure it, but the stage is quite large, and I’m sure some theater or arts group would love to rehab the place, but the problem is cost. That place is huge and it needs a lot of work.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:56 am
There is always money in this city for things like the civic center or new museum. At the same time no one other then big Al can find the cash to even think about saving a treasure like this. I think that says everything there is to say about what is wrong with this city. I will go to Al’s just to see the building. It will clearly be the finest strip club in the world and I would guess that people WILL come from many miles around just to see it. I vote we give Al some tens of millions for it seems he has the vision to save what is left of this city’s fine past.
March 31st, 2009 at 10:06 am
From my March 2 post: http://peoriaspeaks.com/wpmu/themis/2009/03/02/educated-guess/
Great pics, though!
March 31st, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I agree with Magic. It is a sad day for Peoria when something like the Madison gets turned into a sleazy strip club.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:06 pm
What could be intriguing is to do the Madison along the lines of a Moulon Rouge. Adult theatre along burlesque lines. Then keeping and restoring the decor of the place would make sense and Zucarini would still have some sort of adult entertainment.
March 31st, 2009 at 4:41 pm
[...] http://peoriaillinoisan.blogpeoria.com/2009/03/29/the-madison-theater/ [...]
April 1st, 2009 at 9:41 am
Mahkno’s right, they can produce a show that would be in theme with what Big Al’s has to offer but tasteful enough that we won’t all shudder at the thought. Personally, I find that type of business more than just demeaning to women but emotionally destructive as well and I can barely tolerate the thought of the Madison housing such a place. I remember sitting in there as a child and always wanting to be up in the balcony. It’s heartbreaking to know it will be used for such purposes. Still, if it’s his intent to restore such a beautiful building I have to give him a little slack. But why does it have to feel like I’m condoning the actions of a morally reprehensible being in accepting something so sleazy? Is there truly no other option? I would support it if Big Al’s was producing burlesque shows (maybe even be tempted to go to one) or any other type of tasteful production. Why isn’t more being done to restore its integrity as well as the structure of the building?
April 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am
Aren’t our tax dollars paying for the new hotel? I say bring on the Cabaret!
April 1st, 2009 at 7:14 pm
For those of us who have been around for a while, it is a sad thing to see; but the Peoria I remember is gone forever, no matter what happens.
April 20th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I cannot believe the posts I just read here, what a bunch of prudes! There is nothing wrong with a strip club and nothing more beautiful than naked women, unless you’re gay or some kind of religious nut.
And no, those clubs don’t demean women or cause them any psychological harm as those women choose to become strippers and they love their jobs. Those dancers often make six figures a year for doing what they love to do and I doubt that any of the detractors posting here can say that about their own jobs. People that criticize women for becoming nude dancers really have no idea what they are talking about.
Grow up people, if the majority of people thought something was wrong with nudity or sex it wouldn’t be the number one money maker in the world.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I’d love to see this place restored . . . I spent a huge chunk of my youth watching movies there (I even attended the final film showing) and years later I rented out what’s left of the lobby for my wedding reception.
BUT . . .
Peoria has a consistent record of destroying it’s great movie palaces and drive-ins.
As for Big Al’s temporarily taking this place over, the cost of bringing it up to code (not to mention daily heating and cooling bills) seems more than a little prohibitive.
June 9th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I commend Al for art least stepping up. I grew up in Peoria, leaving for college in 1972. The Madison Theatre was and still is a treasure.
By the way, back in the day Al fronted a pretty good band!