Rodgers Theatre

Photo from the Darren Snow collection.

119 W Vienna St Anna IL 62906

Information for this tour was contributed by Darren Snow.

OPENED: 2/38. CAPACITY: 700.

Though missing some of the decorative detail it started out with, the Rodgers Theatre still presents a bright, sunny face to downtown Anna. Opened in February 1938 by I.W. Rodgers on the former site of Ed Lind's Lyric Theatre, "the finest theatre in southern Illinois" seated 700.

In recent years, it has drifted in and out of business. In 1985, Ed Fairbank of McClure, IL, was the owner. In late 1997, the Rodgers -- now owned by a member or members of the McSparin family -- was closed and the marquee offered "free theatre seats." I called the number that was provided several times, but I was told--right up until Christmas--that the seats weren't ready yet. I assumed that this meant the end of the Rodgers as a theatre, but I've since been told that the "free seats" were balcony seats that were being replaced because the theatre was adding an upstairs screening room.

It's been difficult to keep track of the Rodgers' travails from a couple hundred miles away, but it seems to be in business again as of early 2001.

May 2008 photos from the Darren Snow collection.

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September 2004 photos from the Darren Snow collection.

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2004 photos from the Don Gardner collection.

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March 2003 photos from the Darren Snow collection.

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1999 photos from the Darren Snow collection.

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• Cinema Treasures

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Last featured 7/3/2004. Last edited 8/13/2022.