When the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust (SLPT) purchased the Gillioz and the adjacent Jim D. Morris Building in 1990, they were told that the theatre was built so strong that it would cost just as much to tear down as it would to preserve. Because of the material M.E. Gillioz had access to, the Gillioz Theatre is built like a bridge, with steel and concrete, using wood for only the handrails, doors, and doorframes. Though the Gillioz Theatre was originally built for $300,000, the restoration quote was around 1.9 million dollars.

For sixteen years the SLPT worked with local private, public, and political entities to help fund what has now become a 10 million dollar project. The restoration was completed October 2006. Many people attending the Gillioz Theatre reopening were able to recall the first time the Gillioz opened. They remarked that the Gillioz was more splendorous than they ever remembered.

TIMELINE

1926 October 11: The Gillioz Theatre Beautiful opened to a crowd 4-5 times its holding capacity.

1926 November 11: Springfield, Missouri, became the “birthplace of Route 66” in the neighboring Woodruff Building where the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture officially approved the Federal Interstate Highway System that ran directly in front of the Gillioz Theatre.

1928 The Gillioz introduced “talking pictures”

1929 April 12: The Gillioz showed MGM’s first all-talking movie tone sound on film musical, The Broadway Melody, winner of the second Academy Award for Best Picture

1934 March 6: Clark Gable sent a telegram thanking the Gillioz for showing his movie “It Happened One Night”

1936 January 16: The Gillioz’s first Technicolor film “Time for Love” was shown.

1938 January 14: The Gillioz hosted its first world premier, “Swing Your Lady” with Humphrey Bogart, Penny Singleton, Nat Pendleton, Louise Fazendg, the Weaver Brothers and Elviry.

1952 June 6: Ronald Reagan, his new wife Nancy Davis, and Mrs. Grover Cleveland Alexander came Springfield for the world premier of “The Winning Team”. President Harry S. Truman arrived for the annual reunion of the Missouri and Kansas National Guard.

1952 July 4: “She’s Working Her Way Through College,” also starring Ronald Reagan, premiered at the Gillioz.

1956 May 16: Elvis was spotted at the Gillioz Theatre after sneaking away between his matinee and evening performances at the Shrine Mosque

1957 January 22: Springfield was named as an “All American City” by Look Magazine

1970 The organ console was covered with a tarp and Sensuround sound made its appearance with speakers while subwoofers sounded from behind the permanent movie screen.

1970 The Gillioz began to fall in disrepair as its customers left downtown for uptown suburbs and malls.

1980 July 22: The Gillioz closed its doors after the last performance of La Traviata by the Springfield Regional Opera

1986 October: Springfield homeless settled in along with their oil barrels for burning fires, their needles, and their booze, but their presence ended up saving Gillioz architecture from being destroyed by vandals.

1987 Jim D. Morris purchased the theatre’s St. Louis St. / Route 66 storefront.

1990 Local philanthropists and Jim D. Morris purchased the Gillioz to save it from being turned into a nightclub.

1991 The Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust, a non-profit organization, formed to pioneer the restoration of the Gillioz

1991 The Gillioz was listed on the National Register of Historical Places

1992 October 27: Jim D. Morris deeded the Gillioz to the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust

1996 The Springfield community helped the Gillioz with loans in order to replace the front marquee to a replica of the original.

1998 Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust acquired the old Netters Department store building next door to the Gillioz.

2002 June 7: Nancy Reagan joins the Gillioz Theatre Honorary Board

2004 July 31: Representative Roy Blunt and Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust announced the partnership of the Gillioz Theatre and Jim D. Morris Building to be known as the Ronald and Nancy Reagan Center

2005 August: Restoration begins on the lobby.

2006 October 11: The Gillioz Theatre celebrates 80 years.

2006 October 13: The Gillioz Theatre reopens.

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Ronald and Nancy Reagan Center     Jim D. Morris Arts Building     Gillioz Theatre   
325 Park Central East    Springfield, MO 65806     417-863-7843