Route 66 News from Illinois-- Part 3

Continued from the Rt 66 Association of Illinois' News.

JOHN WEIS reported on Ike Widner's efforts to get a Route 66 stamp from the postal service. And, we will have one sometime in the next 3-5 years.

He sent copies of his request to many different members of Congress and even president Bush. Nice job Mr. Widner!!


ANOTHER AUTHOR (name not given) wrote about the renovation of Springfield's South Town Theater Marque which they call "a dynamite neon restoration for the Mother Road." It is located on South Grand Avenue, about a block east of 9th Street (Route 66).

The actual theater's interior has not been restored and is occupied by the Walch Studio of Stained Glass (probably an interesting story in itself).

The author said that the theater opened around 1915 as the Empress Theater in the developing area known as South Town and was known as "The House of better Pictures."

In 1937, it was bought and renamed the South Town theater.

In 2007, the City of Springfield purchased the facade of the building and restored it to its original condition. Each evening, the lights go on from dusk to 1 AM.

Greart Job Springfield. I'll Look for It Next Time Through. --RoadDog