Comments on: 5th & Monroe (1970s)

By: Stephen Parfitt

Stephen Parfitt — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:32:39 +0000

What year did the Senate close? What other theaters were still downtown in 1982? The last movie I saw downtown was The Dark Crystal in 1982.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:23:35 +0000

I remember going to a rerun at the Senate Theater about 1977. They were showing Raquel Welch and Mae West in Myra Breckenridge (1970). At that time many of the downtown theaters were taking their last breath.

By: Russ

Russ — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:14:41 +0000

Hi Elaine,
The business with the white awning was Fox Photo. You can see a better view of it in this shot…

http://www.springfieldrewind.com/500-block-of-monroe-1983

By: Elaine

Elaine — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:25:58 +0000

What was in the building with the white awning about two doors down from the Senate Theater? I recently moved to the Lincoln Square Apartments and I think I’m sitting right over that spot now

Every time I see an old movie on TV now (pre-1980s) I think about all the people who probably saw it for the first time almost right over this exact spot.

By: Giuseppe

Giuseppe — Sat, 24 May 2008 23:40:41 +0000

The last movie I saw there was in about 1977 King Kong with Jessica Lange! I would skip school and go to the movies! haha Man I Loved those downtown theaters!

By: Paul H

Paul H — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:43:33 +0000

This was the Senate after they turned it into a two screen theater. I remember the walls being thin and being distracted bythe screams from a horror movie on the other screen. I think the last time I was in there it was for the fantastic animation festival and I was one of about 10 people.

By: Jay

Jay — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:00:37 +0000

When I look at this picture I remember the Senate It was demolished when I was a kid. I also seem to recall Tom & Sally’s..didnt they have a store entrance on 5th street and that building burned down in the early 80′s. Also what was the name of the store at that same corner- I just remember when is was going out of business. It would be great to see pics of the corner building and also along 5th street- where the Tivoli was once.

By: David Robinson

David Robinson — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:30:53 +0000

I seem to recall that one time the Tivoli Thearer, around the corner on 5th Street, was being remodeled and they piled stuff on top of the Senate roof and it collapsed.

By: Marie

Marie — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 08:02:45 +0000

The last movie I saw at the Senate was Tommy, a Rock Opera. It wasn’t even packed, but there were at least a couple hundred people in attendance. A few minutes after intermission, the electricity went out and the theater had to be evacuated.

By: Dan at BFS

Dan at BFS — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:06:53 +0000

I have a good Senate story I’ll have to share with you sometime.