Gillioz Theatre

The historic Gillioz Theatre was built in 1926 and is considered the "largest and grandest" movie palace in Springfield. It was built in an "L" shape which is why the front facade appears narrow. The auditorium, which has 1,015 seats, is located in the back. The Gillioz is a fine example of Spanish/Mission Revival architecture. It features a decorative terra cotta exterior, with tiles placed in diamond and rectangular patterns, banding with raised diamond tiles, a set of arches along the roofline, a pair of arched windows with corkscrew columns, and a large arched window with a circular stained glass in the center. Two urns are located at the corners on the roof. The theater, which is also known as the Gillioz Center for Arts & Entertainment, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Movie palaces grew in popularity around the country in the 1920s, especially after sound was introduced in the middle of the decade. The idea for the Gillioz was proposed in 1924 by local promoter and real estate owner, Frank Headley. He soon acquired the property on which it would be built and asked well-known southwest Missouri general contractor, Maurice E. Gillioz to build it. It is named after him and he became the owner. The theater was designed by the Chicago-based United Studios, Inc., which also operated it for the Universal Film corporation. The Gillioz opened on October 11, 1926 to a sold-out crowd. The entertainment that evening included performances by an orchestra and an accordionist, and a showing of the film Take it from Me staring Reginald Denney.

The Gillioz was one of the city's top entertainment venues until the 1960s. In 1939, it hosted the world premier of Jesse James starring Henry Fonda and other notable actors of the time. It also hosted vaudeville acts, theatrical performances, and a singing contest for girls. In 1952, Ronald and Nancy Reagan attended a movie premier here.

Maurice Gillioz sold the theater to a realty company in 1948. The Gillioz and movie palaces around the country began to decline in the 1960s as movie theaters became more widespread. The realty company owned the Gillioz until 1973. A performance of the opera La Traviata was held at the theater in 1981, sparking speculation that the opera company would continue to use it. However, the stage was too small and the company's director worried that using the Gillioz would prevent the city from getting a convention center. The theater remained unused for the rest of the 1980s but renovations began in the early 1990s. The work was completed in 2006 and is used for a variety of events and performances including Broadway productions, weddings, religious gatherings, receptions, and banquets.

"About." Gillioz Theatre. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://gillioztheatre.com/about.

"Gillioz Theatre." Waymarking. Accessed May 10, 2022. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wmD0N5_Gillioz_Theatre_Springfield_Missouri.

Thomason, Philip & Murphy, Kimberley. "Gillioz Theatre." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. July 9, 1991. https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/63818909/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MO/91000887.pdf.