# Normal Theater

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The **Normal Theater**, also known as the **Normal Theatre**, is a cinema located in the downtown area of [Normal, Illinois](/source/Normal,_Illinois) of the [United States of America](/source/United_States_of_America), which is located in McLean County. The theater closed for a time in the early 1990s but reopened in 1993 after being purchased and renovated by the town of Normal. It has since been in continuous operation, showing a mix of first run and classic films. The building has been on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) since July 25, 1997.

## History

### Development

Local architect Arthur F. Moratz designed the Art Moderne style building.[2][3] The [Streamline Moderne](/source/Streamline_Moderne) building was a state of the art cinema at the time which was built to "show sound movies in the best comfortable environment."[2] The theater was built by Sylvan and Ruth Kupfer and leased to Publix Great States Theatres.[2][3][4]

### Opening

The Normal Theater opened for operation on November 19, 1937.[2] At the time of opening, the theater had 620 seats.[2] The grand opening featured the musical [Double or Nothing](/source/Double_or_Nothing_(1937_film)) starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye, a [Popeye](/source/Popeye) cartoon, and [newsreels](/source/Newsreel).[2]

"The Normal was known for genre and “B” pictures, especially westerns and musicals, as well as second-run fare."[2]

### Decline

In December 1974, the [Springfield](/source/Springfield,_Illinois) chain Kerasotes Brothers took over the theater.[2][4] On January 8, 1982, Kerasotes closed the Irvin Theater in [Bloomington](/source/Bloomington,_Illinois) and turned the Normal Theater into a “dollar house”.[2]

In 1985, it was divided into a two screen theater, also known as twinning.[2][5] The original commercial operation of the Normal Theater ended on May 16, 1991.[2][3]

### Restoration

The Town of Normal purchased the theater and reopened it in 1993 through a community restoration effort.[6] The grand reopening on October 7, 1994 screened [Singin’ in the Rain](/source/Singin'_in_the_Rain).[2][4]

In June 1996, [Normal](/source/Normal,_Illinois) received the “Preservation Project of the Year” award by the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois.[2] On July 25, 1997, the Normal Theater was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

### Present Day

Today theater goers enjoy a "throwback" theater going experience in the fully restored art deco theater. The inside restoration installed plush, coral colored seating, blue, maroon and salmon colored walls, [high-modern style](/source/High_modernism) aisle lights and layered ceiling of multicolored neon lights.[2] Due to accessibility and building code changes, the Normal Theater now seats 385.[2]

## External links

- [Normal Theater website](http://www.normaltheater.com/)

## Notes

1. ["History - Normal Theater, IL"](https://www.normaltheater.com/96/Theater-History). *Normal Theater*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Kemp, Bill (2020-11-08). ["Once rundown, Normal Theater now uptown architectural gem"](https://pantagraph.com/news/local/once-rundown-normal-theater-now-uptown-architectural-gem/article_38ac67a9-7460-5b01-98d2-e987b7957918.html). *The Pantagraph*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. ["Normal Theater"](https://mchistory.org/research/finding-aids/normal-theater). *McLean County Museum of History*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. Meadows, Jim (2019-10-30). ["Art Theater Closes—How Do Other Art Houses Survive?"](https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/art-theater-closes-can-other-art-house-survive). *Illinois Public Media*. Retrieved 2023-09-23.

1. [Normal Theater History](https://www.normalil.gov/431/209-North-Street-Normal-Theater), Town of Normal.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Normal Theater](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_Theater) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normal_Theater?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.