First Talking Picture
1928: First talking picture: Al Jolson’s song in “Mammy.”
1927
Bob Hope appears in “Roberta.”
Opening Day, October 9th, 1927
Opening day of the Coronado Theatre. It was owned by Willard N. Van Matre, Jr. of Rockford and designed by architect Frederick J. Klein in the “atmospheric” style that was popular for movie palaces in the 1920s. The cost was $1.5 million. The exquisite plaster work was created especially for the Coronado. Even the “backs”…
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Preservation Project: The Uniqueness of the Coronado Theatre Preservation and Expansion Project Rockford Area Arts Council commissioned van Dijk, Pace, Westlake/Architects of Cleveland to conduct a feasibility study on renovating, adapting, and maintaining the Coronado and/or Midway Theatres to meet the performing arts needs of the region. The study recommended renovating and expanding the Coronado…
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