Gillioz Theatre
Encyclopedia
The Gillioz Theatre was built by M. E. Gillioz of Monett, Missouri. Mr. Gillioz was in the business of building bridges, and the theater was built with steel and concrete. Wood was only used for handrails, doors, and doorframes. The original cost of the building was only $300,000. Renovation was about $1.9 million.
The theater opened on October 11, 1926, in Springfield, Missouri
. Gillioz managed to secure a 100-year lease on one 16 feet (4.9 m) wide piece of property which bordered on U.S. Route 66
, so that the theater could garner patrons who traveled on that historic highway. After many prosperous years, and many not-so-prosperous years, the "Gillioz, Theatre Beautiful" finally offered its last show in the summer of 1980, an opera.
The theater was originally a transition theater, with a pipe organ for silent movies and a stage for live performances, such as vaudeville
acts. With the advent of talkies, a sound system was eventually installed in 1928.
passed an afternoon watching a movie at the Gillioz after performing sound checks for an evening show at the nearby Shrine Mosque
.
There are rumors of a ghost, and the walls of the theater literally gave up tales of sordid love affairs as the theater was being remodeled.
. Eighty years after first opening its doors, the Gillioz had a grand reopening in October of 2006Encore 2006.
With a seating capacity of 1130, the Gillioz currently offers movies and plays with local talent. Behind-the-scenes tours may also be scheduled.
The theater opened on October 11, 1926, in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. Gillioz managed to secure a 100-year lease on one 16 feet (4.9 m) wide piece of property which bordered on U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
, so that the theater could garner patrons who traveled on that historic highway. After many prosperous years, and many not-so-prosperous years, the "Gillioz, Theatre Beautiful" finally offered its last show in the summer of 1980, an opera.
The theater was originally a transition theater, with a pipe organ for silent movies and a stage for live performances, such as 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. With the advent of talkies, a sound system was eventually installed in 1928.
The Movies
The Gillioz hosted the premieres of three movies:- 1938 January 14: “Swing Your Lady” with Humphrey BogartHumphrey BogartHumphrey DeForest Bogart was an American actor. He is widely regarded as a cultural icon.The American Film Institute ranked Bogart as the greatest male star in the history of American cinema....
and Penny SingletonPenny SingletonPenny Singleton was an American film actress. Born Marianna Dorothy Agnes Letitia McNulty in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania she was the daughter of an Irish-American newspaperman Benny McNulty — from whom she received the nickname "Penny" because she was "as bright as a penny".During her sixty... - 1952 June 6: “The Winning Team" with Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
- 1952 July 4: “She’s Working Her Way Through College,” also starring Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Stories
Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
passed an afternoon watching a movie at the Gillioz after performing sound checks for an evening show at the nearby Shrine Mosque
Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque
The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque is a building of arabesque design located in downtown Springfield, Missouri, USA. It is owned by the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine , and is the site of the annual Shrine Circus...
.
There are rumors of a ghost, and the walls of the theater literally gave up tales of sordid love affairs as the theater was being remodeled.
Renovation
The Gillioz is now operated by the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust. Restoration began in 1990, and was completed n 2006. The lobby and auditorium were restored to the original 1926 appearance. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational 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...
. Eighty years after first opening its doors, the Gillioz had a grand reopening in October of 2006Encore 2006.
With a seating capacity of 1130, the Gillioz currently offers movies and plays with local talent. Behind-the-scenes tours may also be scheduled.