The theater closed for a time in the early 1990s but reopened in 1993 after being purchased and renovated by the town of Normal.

Local architect Arthur F. Moratz designed the Art Moderne style building.

[2][3] The Streamline Moderne building was a state of the art cinema at the time which was built to "show sound movies in the best comfortable environment.

"[2] The theater was built by Sylvan and Ruth Kupfer and leased to Publix Great States Theatres.

[2] The grand opening featured the musical Double or Nothing starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye, a Popeye cartoon, and newsreels.