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A Theater is Born
The Genesee Theatre was the vision of three prominent businessmen: A.L. Brumund, H.C. Burnett and D.T. Webb. In the 1920s, the partners wanted to build a movie palace for their thriving community.
In 1926, they purchased land from the local YMCA for $130,000 and enlisted the help of Chicago architect Edward Steinberg and Waukegan contractor Alva Weeks. The project took over a year and a half to complete and cost $1 million.
No expense was spared. The theater was decorated in Spanish Renaissance style with over 1,200 yards of lush tapestries, several tons of Italian marble and a $25,000 Barton Grande pipe organ. It featured modern fireproof construction and a $100,000 heating and cooling system.
The Genesee Theatre opened its doors on Christmas Day 1927 with four sold-out showings of "The Valley of the Giants." It is believed that 8,000 guests attended that day. The Genesee featured movie premieres, cooking classes, fashion shows and dance contests. In 1928, it boasted the first "talking picture" show in Waukegan. The theater hosted two world premieres: Jack Benny’s "Man About Town" in 1939 and "The Navy Way" in 1944.
In addition to the lavish 1,799 seat theater, the building housed 40 apartments and 11 retail spaces, including Sonia's Hat Shoppe, Funk's Book Nook and the Illinois Bell Telephone Company.
The Genesee was just what the three visionaries had imagined: a lavish entertainment hub and beacon for their fair city.
End of An Era
As the years went on, attendance began to wane. In 1952, The Genesee Theatre was renovated with new seats, sound system and updated décor. But it just couldn't compete with major movie cineplexes. In October 1982, The Genesee showed its last first-run motion picture. In 1989, it closed its doors.
Rebirth
In 1999, the City of Waukegan purchased the historic building and began a $23 million renovation project. With the help of over 120 volunteers, the proud beacon was refurbished to its original splendor with additional enhancements.
Every care was taken to restore its integrity. Wall fabrics are exact replicas of the original wallpaper and colors are matched to existing paint chips. Many of the original plaster moldings, wood railings and light fixtures have been kept intact. The marquee, installed in 2004, is an exact replica of the one that graced the front of the theater in 1927.
Now a 115,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility, The Genesee has expansive lobbies and lounges. The stage size has doubled and the balcony expansion raised seating capacity to over 2,400, making The Genesee Theatre one of the largest in the region. An 18-foot Baccarat crystal chandelier was added to the grand lobby. Originally hung in Seattle's Orpheum theatre, it was kept in boxes since 1967. The chandelier features thousands of crystal pieces and gold-plated sconces, weighs 2,200 pounds and is valued at $350,000.
On December 3, 2004, the theater re-opened its doors to the delight of the community. It continues to provide high-quality entertainment, including top comedians, touring Broadway shows and national musical acts. Its massive stage, private lounges and grand lobby are hotspots for weddings, meetings and private events.