Mar Theatre

The Mar Theatre is a historic movie theater located in Wilmington, Will County, Illinois, United States. It opened for business on June 15, 1937, following two years of planning and construction. The theater was conceived and built by the Butcher Brothers, a local family of entrepreneurs, who invested $50,000 in the project at a time when the country was just emerging from the Great Depression. The venture was described as a bold statement of faith in both their hometown and the movie industry. The building was constructed with state-of-the-art engineering for its era. Its main structure used riveted structural steel with masonry and plaster walls. Patron comfort was a priority: steam heating kept the theater warm in winter, while a then-new invention, chilled air conditioning, cooled the air in summer by passing it through water-chilled coils. Safety features included fireproof construction in the basement boiler areas, with solid concrete walls, ceilings, and floors, as well as a fireproof projection room designed to contain the volatile early film material. Four exits were provided from the main auditorium. Much of the Mar Theatre remains as it was in 1937. The building has only ever been used as a movie theater. The original stage and decorative ceiling are intact, and the lobby and ticket booth area retain their original configuration. Many original architectural hardware and lighting fixtures are still in use. The concession area has been updated to serve modern tastes. The original auditorium comfortably seats 300 moviegoers, and a second auditorium accommodates 64 patrons. The original marquee is still used outside. Today, the Mar Theatre operates as a cinema and community event venue. Its website promotes movies, events, and promotions, and offers the opportunity to hold an event, sign up for special deals, or hire out the whole theater. It remains a local landmark in Wilmington, Illinois.

The Mar Theatre opened for business on June 15, 1937, in Wilmington, Will County, Illinois. Its conception and construction took two years. The project was undertaken by the Butcher Brothers, a local family of entrepreneurs, who saw it as a bold statement of faith in their hometown and the movie industry at a time when the country was just leaving the Great Depression. The cost of construction in 1937 was $50,000. The engineering of the theater was considered state of the art for its time. The main structure was built with riveted structural steel and masonry and plaster walls. Patron comfort was addressed with steam heating for cold seasons and a new invention, chilled air conditioning, for hot summer months. The air conditioning worked by passing air through water-chilled coils and forcing it into the theater. Safety was also a priority: the basement areas containing the two boilers were of fireproof construction, with solid concrete walls, ceilings, and floors to contain any potential fire. The original projection room was also fireproof due to the volatile nature of early film material. Four exits were provided from the main theater. In its entire life, the building has only been used as a movie theater. Much of the Mar remains as it was in 1937. The original stage and decorative ceiling are intact. The lobby and ticket booth area are in the original configuration. Much of the original architectural hardware and lighting fixtures are still in use. The concession area has been updated to serve the tastes of today's generation. The original auditorium comfortably seats 300 moviegoers, and a new second auditorium accommodates 64 patrons. Outside, the original marquee is still used. As of the official website, the Mar Theatre continues to operate, showing movies and hosting events. It invites patrons to hold an event, sign up for special deals, or hire out the whole theater.

• 1937

  The Mar Theatre opens for business on June 15, 1937, built by the Butcher Brothers at a cost of $50,000.

• 1937

  The theater features state-of-the-art engineering including riveted structural steel, steam heating, and chilled air conditioning.

• 1937

  Original auditorium seats 300; a second auditorium for 64 patrons is added later.

• 1935

  Conception and planning of the Mar Theatre begins, taking two years before opening.

A historic, community-focused movie theater offering films, events, and private rentals in a preserved 1937 building.

• Movie screenings

  First-run films shown in the original 300-seat auditorium and a second 64-seat auditorium.

• Live events

  The theater hosts events and promotions.

• Private event rentals

  The whole theater can be hired for private events.

• Concessions

  Updated concession area serving modern tastes.

1. 1Home — The Mar Theatrethe-mar.com
2. 2Our History — The Mar Theatrethe-mar.com
3. 3Mar Theatre — Wikidatawikidata.org