The Art Theatre: A Community Treasure
Downtown Champaign is home to a treasure trove of unique finds, among them, the Art Theatre. It is one of the few older movie theaters in the area still in working order.
The movie-going experience becomes a grand occasion at the Art – and a more cultured one. The building itself is one to marvel at, originally modeled after the grand old Chicago theaters. It provides a rare glimpse into the past and maintains a presence of the glamor that surely once resided there.
Seeing a movie at the Art is not like going to a typical movieplex; owners over the years have truly strived to preserve the authenticity and presentation of classic cinema. Audiences today can still enjoy the intimate feel of a community that appreciates quality film.
However, the theater’s quality condition has certainly not been achieved without great effort. The theater was turned into a co-op in order to gain necessary funding.
The Art first opened on November 12, 1913, and was originally named The Park Theatre.
Although the theater requires constant updates to remain current with new technology in the film industry, it is a piece of history for the community and, hopefully, will continue to thrive.
The staff of the Art provides customers with an online venue, as well.
Urbana High School student Patrick Shea said, “The Art Theatre’s online email subscription (which includes the weekly show times) is a great way to find out when the Art Theatre is playing great classic movies like comedies, old gangster films, documentaries and more.”
As communities develop the latest attractions, it’s comforting to know that a little piece of history can still survive, and that a place of culture and fine arts will continue to touch all those who visit.
The movie-going experience becomes a grand occasion at the Art – and a more cultured one. The building itself is one to marvel at, originally modeled after the grand old Chicago theaters. It provides a rare glimpse into the past and maintains a presence of the glamor that surely once resided there.
Seeing a movie at the Art is not like going to a typical movieplex; owners over the years have truly strived to preserve the authenticity and presentation of classic cinema. Audiences today can still enjoy the intimate feel of a community that appreciates quality film.
However, the theater’s quality condition has certainly not been achieved without great effort. The theater was turned into a co-op in order to gain necessary funding.
The Art first opened on November 12, 1913, and was originally named The Park Theatre.
Although the theater requires constant updates to remain current with new technology in the film industry, it is a piece of history for the community and, hopefully, will continue to thrive.
The staff of the Art provides customers with an online venue, as well.
Urbana High School student Patrick Shea said, “The Art Theatre’s online email subscription (which includes the weekly show times) is a great way to find out when the Art Theatre is playing great classic movies like comedies, old gangster films, documentaries and more.”
As communities develop the latest attractions, it’s comforting to know that a little piece of history can still survive, and that a place of culture and fine arts will continue to touch all those who visit.
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