Normal Theater, Illinois

What is Normal Theater?

This is a working cinema, also spelled Normal Theatre, in the heart of downtown Normal. Its design follows Streamline Moderne, the smooth, rounded version of Art Deco that took its cues from ships, trains and speed. That look fits right in with the era of Route 66 travel.

The programming mixes new releases with classic films, which makes it more than a neighborhood movie house: it is a place where older films get a big screen again.

History of Normal Theater

The theater went dark for a while in the early 1990s. Rather than let it go, the town of Normal purchased the building, renovated it and reopened it in 1993. It has operated continuously ever since. The theater joined the National Register on July 25, 1997.

Visiting Normal Theater: tips

The theater is about 0.9 miles from the old road. Even if you do not catch a film, the facade is well worth a photo. Check the theater's website for showtimes. Several other stops are within walking distance. The Illinois Museum of Natural History is about 0.2 miles away, and Fell Arboretum is about 0.3 miles off for a stroll among trees. Sprague's Super Service, a Tudor Revival gas station on Route 66 that sits in the Illinois Route 66 association's Hall of Fame, is about 0.5 miles away, so an evening film can follow an afternoon on the old road. Downtown Normal also has several places to eat close by.