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Topic: Historic Grand Theater remains closed

John H. Crawford
Film Handler

Posts: 38
From: Carbondale Illinois USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 09-14-2005 08:25 PM

http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2005/09/13/local/107072.txt

Historic Grand Theater remains closed

BY CHRISTI MATHIS
FOR THE SOUTHERN

DU QUOIN - After decades of advertising the latest movie releases, the red, black and white marquis of the historic Grand Theater in Du Quoin says simply "Closed. Get well soon Bill."

That's because longtime theater owner Bill Ivy, of Herrin, suffered a major stroke Aug. 24 and has been hospitalized ever since.

But from Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Ivy's sister-in-law Irene Crompton said Monday the family is hopeful Ivy will make a full recovery and the historic theater will reopen.

"He's in stable condition," Crompton said, noting that Ivy is making significant progress in recuperating from his stroke, and it's hoped that by later this week or early next week, he can move to a skilled care unit the family will be selecting.

There, he'll continue his recovery for an undetermined period of time, Crompton said.

Ivy has received numerous cards since stricken, perhaps 150 or even more, his sister-in-law said. He's still getting mail each day in room 11571B at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 1 Barnes Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63110.

"He's a very popular guy," Crompton chuckled.

Despite living in Herrin, Ivy's been very active in the Du Quoin community where his business is located. The Grand is nearly 60 years old and has continued to carry first-run movies and tasty theater concessions for a fraction of the cost of a typical movie ticket or soda and popcorn.

Ivy also hosts numerous groups of school-children each year at the twin theater, offering movie and a soda for very low prices.

He purchased the theater at the corner of East Main and Washington streets in 1979, when the prior owner went bankrupt after years of showing old movies. Ivy remodeled the theater and added a second theater in the former balcony area, and has shown current movies since reopening.

The décor of the nearly 60-year-old theater building is original, right down to the tiny decorative floor tiles in the foyer. Now, as Ivy works to heal, the Grand and its beautiful marquis are dark. Employees kept it running through the first weekend after Ivy was hospitalized, but it's been closed since.

"It's closed right now but it probably won't be permanently," Crompton said.

She said the family is still trying to work out all the details and logistics and nothing is certain at this time.

mathis5@hcis.net

618-357-8391
________________________________________________________________

[Frown]

Man I hope this isn't the end for the Grand, let's wish Bill a speedy recovery! I plan on sending him a card this weekend, he is a really nice guy! [thumbsup]

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