Fischer Theatre, Danville

The Fischer Theatre was built in 1884 in Danville, Illinois, and was known as the Grand Opera House at that time. The grand opening was held on November 5, 1884. The lot on which it was built cost $6000, and the building itself cost $28,000 including furnishings. In 1912, the theatre was remodeled and upon its reopening on March 13, 1913, it was known as the Fischer Theater, after a member of its governing board. In 1929, the theater added equipment to project movies, and the exterior was remodeled when apartments and commercial space were added to the front of the building. A large pipe organ was used to accompany silent movies. In 1971, the theater was sold to the Kerasotes Theatres chain. The original seating capacity was about 900, which included the main floor, mezzanine, balcony and boxes. New seating was installed in 1971 when it became a Kerasotes theatre, giving the main floor a capacity of 600. ()