The next meeting of the Tazewell County Genealogical and Historical Society will be Tuesday, November 12th at 7 PM when Jared Olar, Local History Program Coordinator at Pekin Public Library, will present the Story of how the Pekin Bicentennial Pictorial came together. Jared will bring a few with him to sell.  

As the year winds down, there are no Bicentennial events scheduled for November. 

All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County.

Ninety-six years ago on Thanksgiving day, the brand new Pekin Theater opened to rave reviews. Someone who was there that night described the scene in the November 28, 1928 Pekin Daily Times as such:  

Two Thousand Attend Pekin Theater Opening – Congratulations Are Showered Upon Mrs. Fluegel And Her Aids

In a blaze of glory and shower of congratulation, the new Pekin Theater was opened and dedicated last night. 

A sight of breathtaking beauty, a jazz orchestra, a good feature, a foyer that had become a “Flowery Kingdom” of chrysanthemums, beautiful ladies, men in evening dress, embarrassed city officials, blue singers, a pipe organ that got its try-out before a capacity house, an owner speechless with happiness, floating clouds in a twinkling sky—yes, and even a midnight show combined to make the opening of the new Pekin a night long to be remembered.

Surely this morning’s aftermath will be stiff necks from star gazing, sore tonsils from waiting in the crowd of hundreds for the second show, and tongues that will move in praise and admiration of Mrs. Fluegel for her courage and vision.

The crowd began gathering before 5:30, sensing that there would be a sell-out that only the lucky would get to see the opening performance. In fact, so early was the crowd that the early comers arrived in time to see the finishing touches being put upon the theater and swift-moving workmen were completing the installation of the organ as the moment came for the opening of the show. It seemed unbelievable that what was but a bare lot a few months ago could actually be in readiness for so early an opening. None had believed at the start of construction that the theater actually could be opened before Thanksgiving as promised. But it was, and although there was a half hour’s delay in starting, it was NOT because the theater wasn’t ready. It was because the vaudeville troupe failed to arrive on time.

Entering the theater, one was met in the foyer by banks of flowers from admiring and congratulating friends. Stepping on into the auditorium, one heard many gasps of delight as folk caught their first glimpse of the interior. The Oriental motif had been carried out in every minute detail. One didn’t feel like he was in a theater. One didn’t have that stuffy feeling of being confined. It was, indeed, quite like being in some Chinese village with balconies and pagodas about, while on each side a poker-faced Buddha watched over the crowd with never a smile or change of expression—seeming to cast an Oriental spell with a magic wand. This out-in-the-open feeling is greatly enhanced by the ceiling effect. One does not need to be a juvenile to imagine that he is under the open sky. Fleecy clouds, with no portent of rain, float overhead and in the blue heaven stars twinkle merrily as one finds himself searching for the Little Bear and the Big Dipper.

One could go on and on in descriptive writing about the theater—the ventilation, the comfort of the seats, the incline of the floor and elevation of the balcony, the ushers, the beautiful Hinners organ, the programs, the brilliant varicolored electric sign out front, the decorations, the projection equipment, the lighting effects, the heating and cooling system, the special comfort rooms for mothers and babes, and a hundred other things, but suffice it to say the crowd earnestly echoed its approval of the statement of the management that “larger theaters may be built and more costly theaters may be built; but no finer theater can be built anywhere.”

Theater Goers Get “First Night” Thrill

To Pekin Theater goers last night went the thrill that is often afforded to Broadway’s patrons—the thrill of being first-nighters. Folks were in their best duds last night—their holiday attire. It was an ‘occasion’ and all were prepared to share it. There were scores of visitors from out of town; The architect, Elmer F. Behrns, of Chicago, and his wife; the builder, Thos. E. Wetzler; nearby theater owners and scores of other well-wishers or theatrical people interested in the profession, all showering their praise upon Mrs. A. B. Fluegel, the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fluegel, and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Kelly, her sons and daughters, who take an active part in the management of the theater.

Somewhat after 7 o’clock, Louis Birkenbusch, president of the Association of Commerce (which is to have its offices in the south room of the new building) had the difficult task of facing 2000 people and voicing the appreciation of the business people of the community. Mr. Birkenbusch also introduced the mayor.

The program called for Joe Christy as master of ceremonies next, but there was no Joe Christy on hand when the time came, so the pictures were shown, giving the big crowd an opportunity to admire the projection machines and also to listen to the new Hinners organ. A treat not mentioned on the program included a technicolor picture of the Grand Canyon, presented in all the original beauty of that great wonder of nature. The comedy followed. Talk about mud-slinging!

The management presented a picture worthy of the occasion. Alice White in “The Show Girl,” a story of a Brooklyn Irish girl who does what she started out to do, see her name in electrics on Broadway.

The vaudeville presented the Vagabond Tars and Jack Keith’s Debutante Capers; and when they had finished capering it was exactly 10:07 o’clock.

This grand ole gal was first threatened with closure as early as 1960 but Great States and then Plitt kept it open until June 1975 when Plitt closed it.

There was a temporary reprieve as a Dollar-Rodeon but that was short-lived. Eventually, the other businesses left and the tenants in the upstairs apartments moved out. There was a lot of discussion about a dinner theater and it was placed on the National Register of Historic places but in the end, no one would put their money where their mouth was and the very solid building was demolished in 1987. 

The Palace, Madison and Pekin Theaters were all a part of the ABC Great-States chain that was sold to Plitt, the last operator. The Palace met the same fate as Pekin even though it was a beautiful place too. The site is now occupied by the Tazewell county jail.

I will always remember the crew that was there at the end. Good night Rudie, wherever you are! 

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for over 45 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library, and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.