Genesee Theatre

Genesee Theatre is a historic entertainment venue in downtown Waukegan, Illinois, serving as both a concert hall and a movie palace. The building was developed during Waukegan's early twentieth-century growth, when the city sought substantial civic and commercial facilities capable of attracting audiences from the surrounding area. In 1926, A.L. Brumund, H.C. Burnett, and D.T. Webb acquired land at the corner of Genesee and Clayton Streets with the intention of creating a community-oriented complex that combined entertainment, commercial activity, and living space. Construction began in September 1927. Waukegan contractor Alva Weeks and Chicago architect Edward P. Steinberg were involved in the project, which was designed to provide an unusually lavish setting for cinema and live entertainment. The exterior used ornate terra-cotta and pressed brick, while the interior followed a Spanish Renaissance-inspired design. Decorative features included Caen stone, a large central auditorium dome finished in hammered silver, extensive tapestry fabric, Italian Carrera marble, and elaborate lighting. The scale and finish of the project reflected the period's competition among American movie palaces to offer audiences an immersive architectural experience in addition to films and stage performances. The venue originally accommodated movie presentation and vaudeville-style entertainment. Over time, its role shifted as audience habits and the economics of large historic theaters changed. The Genesee closed in 1989, placing the building's future in doubt, but it later underwent a reported $23 million renovation and reopened in 2004. The restoration allowed the theater to resume operation while retaining much of its historic character and architectural identity. In its contemporary role, the Genesee Theatre is primarily a regional live-entertainment venue. It presents concerts, theatrical or variety shows, and other performances, while its legacy as a cinema and movie palace remains central to its identity. The auditorium has seating for approximately 2,403 people. The venue has also been used for filmed entertainment and broadcast-related projects: portions of Soulja Boy's video for “Donk” and Morrissey's video for “I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris” were filmed during performances at the theater, and Ringo Starr recorded a PBS special there. The Genesee remains an important cultural landmark in Waukegan. Its significance derives from the combination of active programming, a prominent downtown location, and preserved architecture associated with the golden age of American movie palaces. Rather than functioning only as a preserved historic building, it continues to operate as a community-facing venue for music and shows.

The Genesee Theatre emerged from Waukegan's expansion in the 1920s. In 1926, A.L. Brumund, H.C. Burnett, and D.T. Webb purchased a site at Genesee and Clayton Streets for a planned community center incorporating entertainment, commercial areas, and living spaces. The project was intended to give Waukegan a high-quality theater comparable with the elaborate movie palaces being developed in larger American cities. Construction began in September 1927. Waukegan builder Alva Weeks and Chicago architect Edward P. Steinberg were associated with the work. Steinberg had previously designed theaters in Chicago, and the Genesee project was executed with an emphasis on architectural richness. The Genesee Street façade combined decorative terra-cotta with pressed brick. Inside, the lobby and auditorium used materials and motifs associated with Spanish Renaissance design, including Caen stone, extensive tapestry fabric, Italian Carrera marble, elaborate lighting, and a prominent hammered-silver dome. These details made the building one of the most ambitious entertainment structures in the area. The theater originally operated as a movie palace while also accommodating vaudeville and other live presentations. Its mixed programming reflected the business model of large theaters in the period, which used films, stage acts, and special events to draw broad audiences. As the local entertainment environment changed, the building eventually closed in 1989. After remaining closed, the Genesee was brought back into operation following a reported $23 million renovation. It reopened in 2004, with the restoration preserving the building's historic appearance while adapting it for modern performances. The renovated venue has seating for about 2,403 people and operates principally as a concert and live-show venue, although its identity as a former cinema remains an important part of its public history. The building has also served as a location for music-related visual and broadcast projects. Soulja Boy filmed part of the video for “Donk” at the theater, Morrissey filmed part of the video for “I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris” during a 2007 performance there, and Ringo Starr recorded a PBS special at the venue. These uses extended the theater's role beyond ticketed events and connected its historic interior with contemporary popular music. Today, the Genesee Theatre remains an active cultural institution in Waukegan. Its importance rests on both continued operation and architectural continuity: audiences attend concerts and shows in a building that still communicates the ambition of the 1920s movie-palace era.

• 2007

  Morrissey video filmed at the venue

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Portions of Morrissey's video for “I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris” were filmed during a performance at the theater.

• 2004

  Reopened after renovation

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The Genesee reopened following a reported $23 million renovation that adapted the historic building for renewed public use.

• 1989

  Original operation ended

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  The theater closed after its original operating era.

• 1927

  Construction began

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the theater began in September, with Alva Weeks associated with construction and Edward P. Steinberg with the architectural design.

• 1927

  Theater opened as a movie palace

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  After an extensive construction program, the lavish movie palace opened to the public and hosted cinema and vaudeville-style entertainment.

• 1926

  Development site acquired

  [1]Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org

  A.L. Brumund, H.C. Burnett, and D.T. Webb acquired land at Genesee and Clayton Streets for a proposed community and entertainment center.

A restored historic movie palace positioned as a distinctive regional concert and entertainment venue, combining preserved Spanish Renaissance-inspired architecture with contemporary live programming.

• Live entertainment

  Live concerts

  The Genesee Theatre's principal contemporary offering is live music presented in a restored historic auditorium with seating for approximately 2,403 people. The venue's architecture and scale provide a distinctive setting for touring artists and regional audiences.

• Performing arts · 1927

  Stage and variety performances

  The building has historical roots in vaudeville and continues to function as a general-purpose show venue. Its programming capacity supports theatrical, variety, and other live presentations in addition to concerts.

• Film exhibition · 1927

  Cinema and film events

  The Genesee began as a movie palace and has retained that association as part of its identity. Film screenings and cinema-related events represent the venue's original public function, even though contemporary use is centered more strongly on live entertainment.

• Media production

  Production and recording location

  The theater's preserved interior has been used for filmed music projects and broadcast recording. Documented examples include music-video work by Soulja Boy and Morrissey and a PBS special recorded by Ringo Starr.

• 2004

  Historic theater restored for renewed operationStrategy

  Background

  The venue had been closed since 1989, while its architectural and cultural value made preservation and reuse significant for Waukegan.

  Action taken

  A reported $23 million renovation was undertaken, after which the Genesee reopened as a modernized live-entertainment venue while retaining its historic character.

  Aftermath

  The reopened theater resumed public programming and continues to operate as a concert and show venue.

  Renovation cost. $23 million (Renovation completed by 2004)

  Source

1. 1Genesee Theatreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Genesee Theatre official websitegeneseetheatre.com