#028-Gillioz Theatre
The Gillioz Theatre, one of the Midwest’s great old theatres is located on historic Route 66 in the Springfield Public Square Historic District. It was built by M. E. Gillioz of Monett, Missouri. Mr. Gillioz was a well-known builder and developer in southwest Missouri. He financed and built the theatre, which was named in his honor. Mr. Gillioz was in the business of building bridges, and the theater was built with steel and concrete. Wood was only used for handrails, doors, and doorframes. The original cost of the building was $300,000. The theater opened on October 11, 1926 to tremendous acclaim. The sold-out crowd was enchanted by the opulent Spanish Colonial Revival design, and modern visitors are equally impressed today. The theater was originally a transition theater, with a pipe organ for silent movies and a stage for live performances, such as vaudeville acts. A sound system was installed in 1928 with the advent of talkies. Now the Gillioz is mainly a concert venue, hosting a wide range of entertainment anyone can enjoy. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. If you enjoyed this photo you may want to check out others at www.417art.com