This is how I remember the Esquire – great photo! Very sad to see the facade all bricked up now and the building empty. Spent many many hours at the movies here. Remember the “island” across the street at S Grand & MacArthur, with the Tom Thumb Grocery strore?
The “island” also contained a gas station, Marriott’s Drug Store and the Grand Barber Shop where Butch cut my hair for a quarter! On special Saturday matinees, you could get in the Esquire for two PepsiCola bottle caps. That was back in the ’40s. Double features with Abbott & Costello, a western and a Flash Gordon serial. What a great babysitter for mom!!
I’m glad to see that Craig and David misspent their youths in the same fashion as I. Winter months in central IL can be dreary. Every Saturday I was at the Esquire, a block from our home on State Street. For a quarter, I got admission (14 cents), popcorn (10 cents) and a jaw breaker (1 cent). That entitled me to a double feature with newsreel, cartoon, and coming attractions: four hours of bliss. I still think the old b/w movies from 1948-58 are the best. What I called gangster pictures have now become film noir!
My first job was selling popcorn at the Esquire for 75 cents an hour. A real pay increase from babysitting for 50 cents. This was a blast from the past, though I’m sad to see the condition of this building.
This is how I remember the Esquire – great photo! Very sad to see the facade all bricked up now and the building empty. Spent many many hours at the movies here. Remember the “island” across the street at S Grand & MacArthur, with the Tom Thumb Grocery strore?
Craig | Dec 12, 2007 | Reply
The “island” also contained a gas station, Marriott’s Drug Store and the Grand Barber Shop where Butch cut my hair for a quarter! On special Saturday matinees, you could get in the Esquire for two PepsiCola bottle caps. That was back in the ’40s. Double features with Abbott & Costello, a western and a Flash Gordon serial. What a great babysitter for mom!!
David Robinson | Dec 28, 2007 | Reply
I’m glad to see that Craig and David misspent their youths in the same fashion as I. Winter months in central IL can be dreary. Every Saturday I was at the Esquire, a block from our home on State Street. For a quarter, I got admission (14 cents), popcorn (10 cents) and a jaw breaker (1 cent). That entitled me to a double feature with newsreel, cartoon, and coming attractions: four hours of bliss. I still think the old b/w movies from 1948-58 are the best. What I called gangster pictures have now become film noir!
Will Howarth | Jul 8, 2008 | Reply
My first job was selling popcorn at the Esquire for 75 cents an hour. A real pay increase from babysitting for 50 cents. This was a blast from the past, though I’m sad to see the condition of this building.
Anonymous | Aug 6, 2009 | Reply
My brother, sister and I used to go to the Saturday morning matinees. It was a real treat.
Sherry | Jun 2, 2010 | Reply
Why not make this a trifecta-the Orpheum-Strand-and now the Esqire-I hope the new theatre owners do SOMETHING with this place!!!
ed kienzler | Jun 8, 2010 | Reply