Rockford nostalgic for these 12 bygone movie theaters

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Giant movie theaters like AMC 16 in Rockford are commonplace these days.

But, before the big, modern complexes, the Rockford area was home to numerous small houses that showed movies all over the city.

And while the new theaters are arguably better, Rockford-area residents say the old movie houses will always have a place in their hearts.

Here’s a list of the top 12 theaters people in Rockford miss.

12. Sunset Drive-In: Located on Samuelson Road, this southeast-side gem opened in 1955 and could hold 700 cars. In its later years, the theater was known for showing adult films. It closed in 1986.

11. Robin Drive-In: Opening in August 1950 with space for 726 cars, this drive-in on Rockford’s west side was a family favorite. A 1984 tornado damaged its screen, and it never reopened.

10. Times Theatre: Once a bustling downtown spot, this theater screened films through the 1980s. Its closure marked the end of an era for single-screen experiences, leaving locals longing for its intimate charm. The theater showed movies throughout the 1908s. It’s currently in the early stages of a major renovation.

9. Midway Theatre: Another downtown staple, the Midway operated as a movie house into the 1980s. Its loss signaled the decline of classic theaters, with memories of its big-screen magic still vivid for older generations. The Midway stopped showing movies in 1980. It’s now vacant.

8. Auburn Street Theater: This lesser-known gem on Auburn Street offered a quirky, intimate movie-going experience in the 1980s and ‘90s. It’s missed for its unique charm and community feel before it faded away.

7. CherryVale 4: This free-standing theater on the CherryVale Mall campus was a standalone icon with four screens. It closed in 2000.

6. State Theater: This Rockford venue opened in 1931 at 224 N. Main St., in Rockford. It was a popular movie house until it closed in the early 1980s.

5. The Machesney Park Mall Theater: Located within Machesney Park Mall, this cozy cinema was a go-to for local teens, offering a unique mall-based movie experience that faded with the mall’s decline. The theater closed in 2005.

4. North Towne Cinemas: This theater within North Towne Mall provided a convenient and social movie-going option on the city’s North End. In its final years, the complex was a dollar theater, showing mostly second-run films. It closed for good in 2008.

3. Colonial Village Mall Theater: A stand-alone theater at the Colonial Village Mall, this cinema was cherished by locals until it closed in 2008.

2. CherryVale 1-2-3 (CherryVale Cinema): Nestled inside CherryVale Mall, this theater offered a convenient movie experience for mall-goers. With a multi-screen setup, it was a popular hangout spot until it closed in 1999.

1. Belford Drive-In: Debuting on Dec. 23, 1965, with one outdoor and one indoor screen, this theater expanded to four screens and was a top Rockford attraction for 30 years. It closed in 1995. AMC 16 (formerly Showplace 16) now sits in its place.