THEY PLAYED IN PEORIA

 

THEATERS, HALLS & BALLROOMS

Peoria, IL

 

Last updated April 16, 2024

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American Legion Hall, 406 N. Monroe:

09-29-1951 – Dick Laidler Orchestra

11-25-1951 – Rhythm Ranch Hands

10-06-1951 – Dick Laidler Orchestra

10-14-1951 – Rhythm Ranch Hands

01-19-1952 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

11-26-1952 – Bill Viehmeyer's Rhythm Rascals

01-16-1953  – Dick Laidler Orchestra
02-13-1953  – Dick Laidler Orchestra
02-14-1953  – Lloyd "Moe" Harvey WIRL Orchestra
02-20-1953  – Dick Laidler Orchestra
02-21-1953  – Freddy Stevens Orchestra

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Apollo Theater, 313 Main:

Former location of the Crescent Theater, opened 04-11-1914,

03-01-1991  – "It Played in Peoria - Vaudeville", thru 03-03-1991, official reopening of theater
As the Apollo Fine Arts and Entertainment Centre, 311 Main:
08-30-1991  – Jay Richardson, Lenny G, thru 08-31-1991
09-07-1991  – "The Fantasticks", continuing
10-18-1991  – Apollo String Quartet
01-29-1992  – Boxty, Claddagh Irish Dancers
03-07-1992  – Glenghillies, Dennehy Irish Dancers
01-15-1993  – "Butterflies Are Free", thru 01-16-1993
03-19-1993  – "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris", thru 3-27-1993
11-19-1995  – Karen Paradiso Apel
12-11-1998  – River Valley Brass, thru 12-12-1998

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Avon Theater, 2204 S. Adams:

Opened 05-06-1937. Was also the Imperial Theater, see below.

 

Beverly Theater, 1805 Knoxville:

Street number changed to 2513 N. Knoxville in 1956. Opened 03-17-1937.

 

Blue Bird Theater, 117 E. Washington, EP:

Later became the Luxe Theater

 

Columbia Theater, 209 S. Adams:

Opened circa 1951.

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Crescent Theater, 313 Main:

Burned, torn down and replaced with the Apollo Theater.

 

Crest Theater, 3117 Prospect Rd, Peoria Heights:

Street number changed in 1956.

 

Dutchess Theater, 309 S. Adams:

 

Garden Theater, 2135 S. Adams:

 

Gem Theater, 3119 S. Adams:

Opened in 1916, closed in 1927, reopened in 1933 with sound, closed same year.

 

Grand Opera House, 300 block of Hamilton:

Opened 09-12-1882, destroyed by fire in 1909.

 

09-12-1882 – Emma Abbott

04-05-1892 – John L. Sullivan – "Honest Hearts and Willing Hands"

04-13-1902 – Eva Tanguay – "Chaperones"

 

Grand Theater, 1201 1/2 or 1203 S. Adams:

See the Warner Theater, below.

 

Hippodrome Theater, 207 S. Jefferson:

Opened 10-20-1913, became the Rialto Theater in 1926 (see below.)

 

10-20-1913 – The Powers' Elephants (five live elephants)

03-24-1915 – Sophie Tucker

02-17-1920 – Little Caruso Company with Madame Ava Muntell

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Imperial Theater, 2204 S. Adams:

Might have also been known as the Apex Theater. See Avon Theater above.

 

Inglaterra Ballroom (The Ing), 914 Main:

Opened 02-17-1920, fires on 06-19-1923, 03-10-1933 and 01-23-1951, closed in January, 1951, building demolished 08-02-1987.

Some others who performed here include; Guy Lumbardo, Louis Armstrong, Jack Teegarden, Stan Kenton, Kay Kyser, Harry James, Freddy Martin, Ted Weems, Glen Gray, Russ Morgan and Griff Williams.

 

11-23-1929 – Joe Cappo

XX-XX-1931 – World Dance Marathon

03-13-1933 – Les Shepard Orchestra

01-16-1934 – Joe Sanders and his Nighthawks Orchestra

01-19-1934 – Jack Wedell Orchestra – Collegiate Frolic

XX-XX-1935 – Tiny Hill Orchestra

02-15-1935 – WLS Stars with Gene Autry and his Round-Up

02-20-1935 – WMBD Barn Dance and Gene Autry and his WLS Round-Up

05-26-1935 – Little Jack Little

10-31-1935 – Tiny Hill Orchestra (first appearance)

02-11-1936 – Horace Heidt and his Brigadiers

03-22-1936 – Joe Sanders and his Nighthawks Orchestra

04-17-1936 – Lang Thompson Orchestra

09-24-1938 – Benny Goodman, Martha Tilton

12-25-1939 – Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra, Anita Boyer, Allan DeWitt

XX-XX-1940 – Charlie Cartwright Orchestra

12-21-1940 – Verle Bogue Orchestra

12-22-1940 – Dick Jurgens Orchestra

10-29-1941 – Freddie Steven's Orchestra

11-29-1942 – Dick Jurgens Orchestra

XX-XX-1945 – Lawrence Welk

12-31-1946 – Joe Kilton Orchestra

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ITOO Hall, 1306 S. Adams:

05-07-1951 – Biddie Biddison 12 piece band

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Jefferson Hotel Ballroom, 235 S. Jefferson:

09-16-1951 – Rudy James Orchestra (Bronze Medal Ball)

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Keppler's Air-Flow Ballroom, Hanna City:

09-06-1952 – Earl Ruff Orchestra, opening night
10-24-1952 – Earl Ruff Orchestra (continuing)
12-13-1952 – Earl Ruff Orchestra (continuing)
12-31-1952 – Earl Ruff and his Rhythm Rands Hands

04-04-1953 – Earl Ruff and his Rhythm Ranch Hands (continuing)

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Little Theater, 203 Jackson

 

Lyceum Theater, 328 Fulton:

Formerly the Weast Theater.

 

Majestic Theater, 212 S. Jefferson:

01-18-1911 – Lillian Russell – "In Search Of A Sinner"

10-20-1917 – Sarah Bernhardt (2 shows)

02-18-1920 – Francis X. Bushman and second wife Beverly Bayne in "The Master Thief", 2 nights

02-21-1920 – Proctor J. White in "The Visitor", 2 shows

10-15-1920 – John Philip Sousa

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Moose Club, 327 S. Adams:

05-20-1951 – Leo Lukehart's 11 piece band (continuing)

01-25-1952 – Ozzie Osborne Orchestra
01-26-1952 – Rhythm Rascals
01-27-1952 – Joe Evancik Band

04-11-1952 – Dick Laidler Orchestra

11-23-1952 – Leo Lukehart Orchestra

12-31-1952 – Leo Lukehart Orchestra

01-10-1953 – Rhythm Rascals
01-24-1953 – Rhythm Rascals
02-28-1953 – Paul Wireman Orchestra

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National Roof Gardens, 215-217 N. Adams:

Opened 12-18-1927.

XX-XX-1940 – Harry O'Nan's Orchestra

 

Orpheum Theater, 108 or 114-116 N. Madison:

Opened 04-11-1911, closed about 1927, demolished in 1952. Some who appeared here live included Will Rogers, Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker, Fannie Brice, Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor, Edgar Bergan, Moran and Mack, Gallagher and Shean, and many others.

 

03-04-1915 – Norman Hackett – "The Mystery of The Hot Bisquit"

02-17-1920 – Charles Edward Trio, Rex Adams and Vern Thomas, Henry Catalano and Irene Williams, Gus Adams and George Guhl,

                      Evelyn Phillips and Charles Wood

10-14-1920 – Bert Earle, 8-Girls-8, Ray Conlin, Rice and Newton, Jordan and Tyler, George Roland & Co. (3 shows daily thru

                      10-16-1920)

 

Palace Theater, 435 Main:

04-18-1935 – Irene Vermillion, Kermit Dart Orchestra
02-10-1936 – Ed Lowry, Helen Compton and her all-girl orchestra, Rita Joyce, Reece Brothers, Joyce Brothers, Lillian Dawson, Elaine

                       Arden, thru 02-12-1936 - "Ed Lowry and His Company of Stars"

12-21-1940 – Gene Krupa and his Orchestra, Grace McDonald

05-04-1941 – Duke Ellington

02-06-1942 – The Ink Spots thru 02-07-1942

04-04-1951 – Beverly Tyler, Bob Donnelly (film actors)

03-28-1952 – Tiny Hill Orchestra, The Village Barn Revue, Ken Griffin, Harry Savoy, Phyllis Maygers, Launer Twins (4 shows)

12-07-1977 – Cheap Trick, The Rockets (UPDATE: confirmed as per a ticket stub scan; Cheap Trick played with Kansas in Fort

                       Wayne, IN, on 12-06-1977 and with The Rockets in Davenport, IA, on 12-08-1977, which could have given them time to

                       play in Peoria on 12-07-1977.)

 

Palace Theater, 1203 S. Adams:

See the Warner Theater, below.

 

Palisades Open Air Ballroom:

Located 1 and 3/4 miles south of Dunlap, route 150 turn right on route 91,

06-21-1951 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

08-04-1951 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

08-05-1951 – Ralph Howard

08-25-1951 – Toby Davidson Orchestra

09-01-1951 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

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Parmely's Hall, 200 Block N. Adams:

Opened 04-05-1859, also known as The Peoria Theater and later as Howard's Theater.

04-05-1859 – Maggie Mitchell

11-01-1862 – Parson William G. Brownlow

03-10-1867 – Emma Abbott

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Peoria Coliseum and Armory, 523 N. Adams:

08-18-1944  – Duke Ellington

09-09-1951 – Hank Williams (Sr.), Minnie Pearl, Rochester, Dick Haymes, Carmen Miranda, Jack Dempsey, Candy Candido, The

                      Drifting Cowboys, Ann Maucelle, Los Gates Brothers, Lee Marx, Emile Parra, Marie Germaine LeBlanc, Big Big Lister,

                      Ted Evans (The English Giant), Sharkey and his Kings of Dixieland, Dorothy Dorben Adorables, Tony Martins Band,

                      others - Hadacol Caravan Show (Moved from the Grandstand at Expo Gardens due to rain.)

02-11-1952 – Sammy Kaye's Sylvania Sunday Serenade, Barbara Benson, others

04-20-1952 – Grand Ole Opry, Duke of Paducah, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Hal and Velma, Okie Jones, Ken Marvin, Dixie Lee, 2 shows

01-22-1953 – Gene Autry, Melody Ranch Stars, Pat Buttram, Hoosier Hot Shots, Gail Davis, Cass County Boys, Johnny Bond, Carl

                      Cotner, 2 shows

02-11-1953 – Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Pat O'Connor, Sandy Evans, Andrew Dayton, Ramon Alaniz

02-14-1959 – Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Jimmy Clanton, Frankie Sardo, Dion and The Belmonts, The Crickets (with Waylon Jennings

                      and  Tommy Alsip) – Winter Dance Party tour (2 shows) (This lineup replaced original acts Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens

                      and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who were all killed in a plane crash in IA on February 3, 1959.) (The Peoria

                      Journal Star advertisement for the new lineup does not include Frankie Avalon.)

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Pete Weast's Theater, 328 Fulton:

Later became the Lyceum Theater.

 

Princess Theater, 227 S. Adams:

 

Rialto Theater, 207 S. Jefferson:

Formerly the Hippodrome Theater. Reopened as the Rialto on 12-25-1926, closed in 1930, re-opened in 1931, remodeled in 1934,

closed 01-20-1979, demolished in 1979.

 

04-30-1931 – Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd

 

Rouse's Opera Hall, 404 Main Street, opened 05-18-1857:

Opened 05-18-1857, name changed to Main Street Theater on 11-15-1902, building razed in 1920.

 

05-18-1857 – Mr. and Mrs. Henry Howard – "Charles II or The Merry Monarch"

01-22-1862 – Charles F. Brown (aka Artemus Ward) (comedian)

02-01-1862 – General Tom Thumb (2 shows)

12-24-1864 – Fire Zouaves (a military company), Spencer's Orchestra

02-12-1867 – Ralph Waldo Emerson, lecture "The Daily Life of the American People"

03-21-1868 – Emma Abbott, Frank Lombard

01-12-1869 – Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)

03-06-1870 – Susan B. Anthony

02-24-1873 – Anton Rubinstein

07-30-1875 – Tony Pastor (vaudeville acts)

11-15-1875 – Robert G. Ingersoll

01-19-1876 – William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) Wild West Show with Texas Jack, Jededia Broadbrim, Emma Reynolds

01-23-1878 – William F. Cody & Company (may be the same show as 01-19-1876)

03-09-1882 – Oscar Wilde

04-13-1898 – Clarence Darrow

02-25-1901 – Carrie Nation

09-10-1902 – An Edison kinetoscope machine installed for motion pictures

 

Tac Town, 835-837 Main, at Globe:

Teen Age Center (TAC), opened in about 1948 by the Junior League of Peoria and taken over by Peoria Parks & Recreation in about 1950.

04-27-1951 – Dick Raymond Orchestra (continuing)

07-19-1951 – Dick Raymond Orchestra (continuing)

10-03-1951 – Rythm Rascals

01-25-1952 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra (March of Dimes benefit)

05-03-1952 – Rhythm Rascals Orchestra, Dusty Rhodes

07-25-1952 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

11-27-1952 – Freddie Stevens Orchestra

01-30-1953 – Dick Raymond Orchestra (continuing)
02-13-1953 – Kenny Landon Orchestra
03-06-1953 – Paul Wireman Orchestra

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Varsity Theater, 2109 Main:

Street number changed to 1216 W. Main in 1956.

 

Warner Theater, 1203 S. Adams:

This theater began as the Palace Theater in 1913. When Ascher's Palace Theater opened on Main Street in 1921, this theater's name was changed to the Little Palace Theater. During the 1930s and early '40s, it was the Grand Theater, a burlesque house. About 1941 it became the Warner Theater and operated as a movie house until it closed in 1957.

 

Weast Theater, 310-314 Fulton:

Opened about 1888, closed about 1908 and then became the Lyceum Theater.

07-03-1902 – Carrie Nation, Lucy Page Gaston

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