Historic theaters on Route 66
Only 8 historic theaters made it into our data, in 5 states, but they are some of the grandest buildings on the road. By state: Illinois 2, Missouri 1, Oklahoma 1, New Mexico 2, California 2.
The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet is the showpiece, a former movie palace that still stages shows a block from the road. The Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma is another restored former movie house; the Normal Theater near Bloomington, the Odeon Theatre in Tucumcari and the El Morro Theater in Gallup are small-town cinemas; the Lyric Live Theater in Rolla is a playhouse; and California adds the Pomona Fox Theater and the former Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont. Every one of them is listed on the National Register, and a typical one sits about 1.7 mi from the road.
Practical hint: the best way to see a theater is from the inside — check the schedule and catch a show or a tour. A matinee often costs less than a museum ticket, and you get the building for free.
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Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop. Open this kind on the full map to filter by state or add a stop to your trip.
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