the last days of the midway....
Built in 1918 as a vaudeville theater,the Midway evolved into a music venue,community theater,and a movie theater over the years.It was a showcase to downtown Rockford,but as demographics changed,it struggled to stay viable.On my visit,signs on the once beautiful front doors,said the building was condemned and the lobby was filled with decayed theater seats.Easily one of the finest pieces of architecture I have ever seen...
An interesting side note-I talked to a older lady sitting nearby who is a longtime resident of downtown.She related a memory of seeing James Brown perform there back in the '60s.
www.wrex.com/story/28192292/2015/02/Tuesday/historic-rock...
The Midway is part of the East Rockford Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
the last days of the midway....
Built in 1918 as a vaudeville theater,the Midway evolved into a music venue,community theater,and a movie theater over the years.It was a showcase to downtown Rockford,but as demographics changed,it struggled to stay viable.On my visit,signs on the once beautiful front doors,said the building was condemned and the lobby was filled with decayed theater seats.Easily one of the finest pieces of architecture I have ever seen...
An interesting side note-I talked to a older lady sitting nearby who is a longtime resident of downtown.She related a memory of seeing James Brown perform there back in the '60s.
www.wrex.com/story/28192292/2015/02/Tuesday/historic-rock...
The Midway is part of the East Rockford Historic District which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.