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Introduction
For generations, a night at the movies was one of Sandwich’s favorite ways to spend an evening.
The names changed over the years. Owners came and went. New sound systems were installed, seats were replaced, and the latest Hollywood technology found its way to town. Yet through it all, the theater remained a familiar gathering place where residents laughed, cheered, watched the news, attended community events, and escaped everyday life for a few hours.
The story began in 1908.
Theatre Timeline at a Glance
- 1908 — Royal Theatre opens in the Will Wallace Building on Main Street
- 1910 — Will Burkhart purchases the Royal Theatre from Frank Grant
- 1911 — Royal Theatre moves to the Bleitz Building on Railroad Street
- 1912 — J. R. Gage purchases the Royal Theatre
- 1920 — Royal becomes the American Theatre
- 1928 — American Theatre becomes the Avalon Theatre
- 1933 — Avalon Theatre becomes the State Theatre
- 1954 — CinemaScope arrives at the State Theatre
- 1964 — State Theatre closes (closed by November 1964)
- 1966 — Building referred to as the “old State Theatre Building”
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
The Royal Theatre Opens
The first Royal Theatre opened in September 1908 in the Will Wallace Building on Main Street, next to the offices of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company.
Where the Story Began
The Royal Theatre operated in the Will Wallace Building on Main Street from 1908 to 1911. From this modest storefront, Sandwich residents experienced some of their earliest motion pictures, along with vaudeville acts and other live entertainment. In December 1911, the theater moved to a larger home on Railroad Street, beginning the next chapter in its history.
Motion pictures were still a novelty in those days. A visit to the Royal often included moving pictures, vaudeville acts, singers, comedians, and other live entertainment. The movies were important, but they were only part of the show.
Frank Grant was the earliest owner identified so far. In July 1910, he sold the Royal Theatre business and equipment to Will Burkhart, who continued operating the popular movie house.
A New Home on Railroad Street
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
The Royal Theatre at it’s new location on Railroad Street.
On December 14, 1911, the Royal Theatre celebrated the grand opening of its new home in the Bleitz Building on Railroad Street, a location that would become the home of downtown theatres for decades
Newspaper accounts reported large crowds and praised Burkhart for sparing neither time nor expense in creating one of the finest amusement places in the area. Motion pictures were shown alongside “high class vaudeville,” giving local audiences a taste of entertainment that was becoming popular across the country.
Remarkably, both the original Main Street location and the Railroad Street location still stand today.
The Gage Years
In February 1912, J. R. Gage purchased the Royal Theatre and continued its operation.
Under Gage’s management, the Royal became an important part of community life. Special motion pictures, vaudeville performers, benefit programs, and local events regularly appeared on the stage and screen.
The Royal occasionally brought major news stories to Sandwich audiences. In late 1909, local residents could view motion picture footage related to the Cherry Mine disaster, one of Illinois’ deadliest mining tragedies. For many, it was the closest they would ever come to witnessing the event firsthand.
In 1914, the theater also found itself at the center of a local debate when community leaders discussed whether motion pictures should be shown on Sundays. The discussion reflected broader questions facing communities across America as movies became increasingly popular.
From Royal to American
Original promotional poster for The Phantom of the Opera (1925), displayed at Sandwich’s American Theatre. Starring Lon Chaney, the silent-film classic became one of the most famous horror movies of the 1920s.
In 1920, Gage sold the Royal Theatre to E. L. Ingersoll and Frank Boget.
During the years that followed, the theater became known as the American Theatre. While the name changed, the building remained Sandwich’s principal movie house.
The American continued to host motion pictures, community programs, election-night gatherings, and special events for local audiences.
The Avalon Theatre
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
Promotional fold-out movie schedule from Sandwich’s Avalon Theatre, circa 1933. Distributed to local moviegoers, the brochure advertised several weeks of upcoming films, including John Barrymore’s A Bill of Divorcement and Wheeler & Woolsey’s Hold ‘Em Jail.
A new chapter began in October 1928 when the American Theatre was sold to R. A. Shobe of Monticello, Indiana.
The theater closed briefly while extensive improvements were completed. The projection room was altered, the lobby was enlarged, and new Phototone sound equipment was installed.
When the theater reopened, it carried a new name:
Avalon Theatre
The Avalon years were lively ones.
Amateur nights, radio performers, boxing exhibitions, children’s programs, and merchant-sponsored promotions filled the calendar. During the Christmas season, local children could attend free matinees while parents completed their shopping downtown.
A Tragic Loss
One of the most dramatic chapters in the theater’s history occurred in September 1928 when Frank Boget died after being overcome by fumes while attempting to extinguish a small film fire in the projection room.
His sudden death shocked the community and was widely reported throughout the area.
The State Theatre
Photo restoration by Herk Schmidt
In 1933, Fred Anderson purchased the Avalon Theatre and immediately began another major modernization project.
The building received new seats, improved sound equipment, updated projection systems, and a beautiful illuminated canopy.
A public contest was held to select a new name for the theater. The winning suggestion was “Eureka.”
There was only one problem.
The expensive new canopy already carried the name “State.”
Rather than replace the sign, Anderson adopted the name already glowing above the entrance.
In December 1933, the Avalon officially became the State Theatre.
More Than Movies
Over the years, the State Theatre became much more than a place to watch movies.
Children sent letters to Santa Claus through the theater. Christmas parties filled the auditorium with excited youngsters. Special exhibits appeared in the lobby, including wildlife displays promoting the film The Yearling.
The theater continued to modernize. New RCA sound equipment was installed in 1946. In 1954, the State proudly introduced CinemaScope, bringing the latest widescreen technology to Sandwich moviegoers.
One projectionist, David Orr, even left Sandwich in 1947 to accept a position with Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood.
The Final Curtain
By late 1964, the State Theatre’s long run was coming to an end. While the exact date of the final movie has not yet been determined, a letter published in the Sandwich Free Press on November 19, 1964 confirms that the theater had recently closed.
The letter was written by Paul Sweeney, who had been associated with the State Theatre for many years. Sweeney credited the theater with drawing audiences from throughout northern Illinois and recalled more than 1.2 million paid admissions during his association with the business. He also noted that the State was known in film circles as the “Biggest Little Theatre in Northern Illinois.”
Reflecting on the theater’s closing, Sweeney wrote that it was “a tragic thing for Sandwich” and lamented what he called “the last drawing of the curtain at the State Theatre.”
By 1966, local newspapers were referring to the structure simply as the “old State Theatre Building,” bringing to a close a theatrical tradition that had begun with the Royal Theatre in 1908.
A New Chapter
While the era of downtown movie theaters eventually came to an end, motion pictures never left Sandwich. Today, moviegoers continue the tradition at the Classic Cinemas Sandwich XQ on the east side of town. Though separated by decades and a different location, the theater remains part of a story that began when the Royal Theatre first opened its doors in 1908.
Facts at a Glance
Names Used
- Royal Theatre (1908–1920)
- American Theatre (1920–1928)
- Avalon Theatre (1928–1933)
- State Theatre (1933–1964)
Buildings
- Will Wallace Building (Main Street)
- Bleitz Building (Railroad Street)
Owners
- Frank Grant
- Will Burkhart
- J. R. Gage
- E. L. Ingersoll
- Frank Boget
- R. A. Shobe
- Fred Anderson
Major Improvements
- 1911 relocation to Railroad Street
- 1928 Phototone installation
- 1933 modernization project
- 1946 RCA sound system
- 1954 CinemaScope
Continue the Story
(Related articles coming soon)
- The Cherry Mine Disaster on the Screen
- Amateur Night at the Avalon
- Letters to Santa at the State Theatre
- Children Enjoy Christmas Party at the State
- Behind The Curtain
Research & Sources
This article was compiled using contemporary Sandwich newspapers, theater advertisements, local theater records, historic photographs, postcards, and community research materials.
Key sources include:
- Sandwich Free Press
- The Sandwich Argus
- State Theatre index cards and local theater records
- Historic photographs and postcards
- Community research collections
Special thanks to the many local researchers and collectors who have helped preserve Sandwich’s theater history.
For additional source material and research information, please visit the Research & Sources page.