Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, marks 100 years of making memories at the Gillioz Theatre in Springfield. On opening night in 1926, Springfield turned out in a big way to open the finest theater Springfield has ever had.
The Springfield Leader newspaper’s front page said it was “Springfield’s Wonderland Theatre Beautiful,” and an advertisement in that issue of the paper said opening night would be the “Greatest Event Ever Held in Springfield. You’ll behold a Fairyland — Gorgeous, Vivid, Awe Inspiring, Dazzling, Sweeping, Amazing, Bewildering.” The crowd that turned out was reportedly large enough to fill the theater three or four times, and the police formed a line to keep the eager crowd orderly at the entrance. Opening night tickets were 40 cents for adults
and 10 cents for children.
Times have changed, and for the centennial program there will be no charge. Doors will open at 1 p.m. Sunday with the program starting at 2 p.m. Tickets are free, but you do need a ticket to get in. Call the box office 417-863-9491 to get your ticket. The whole community is invited.
M.E. Gillioz, a road and bridge builder from Monett, spent $300,000 to build the theater. Through his road construction connections, he knew that a major highway from Chicago to California would come into Springfield down St. Louis Street, and he wanted his 1,100-seat theater to be on that thoroughfare. He found a vacant lot on Olive Street that was large enough for the auditorium, but it had no access to St. Louis Street, so he negotiated a 100-year lease for a 25-foot-wide entrance to the street out front.
On Oct. 27, 1992, the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust signed papers to purchase the theater and the lobby entrance to save it from the wrecking ball.
Mr. Gillioz knew how to get things done. He traveled in a 12-cylinder chauffeur-driven Duesenberg, and in the trunk of his “Doozy” was a wooden box fitted with small compartments that each held a pint of his private label bourbon, “Old M.E.” Just before opening bids on a road or bridge project, he’d invite local officials to join him in the parking lot where he’d pass out bottles and they’d toast the project. He usually won the bid.
The opening night crowd was treated to a wide variety of performances. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was played on the theater’s Wurlitzer pipe organ, followed by Marvin Niles and his New Ideas Orchestra. Next, vaudeville act the Swiss Songbirds sang, followed by the Kansas City Ukulele Songsters, who were heard on WDAF radio. The silent films that night started with a newsreel, a Felix the Cat cartoon and the feature film “Take It From Me,” starring Reginald Denny. Also shown was a special film of highlights of the sixth game of the World Series flown in just for this event. It was the Cardinals vs. the Yankees, which the Cardinals won 10-2 with Redbird ace Grover Cleveland Alexander getting the victory. The Gillioz remained Springfield’s top first run movie showplace for over four decades.
The world of the movies changed over the years and by the 1980s movies had shifted to metal building multiplexes located near residential neighborhoods. Attendance at downtown theaters dwindled in cities all across the nation and the old, ornate show palaces began closing. On July 22, 1980, the Gillioz hosted its final show. The Springfield Regional Opera staged “La Traviata” for three nights and the theater was locked up and forgotten.
It was remembered by the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust, a group of citizens who didn’t want the theater demolished. After it was purchased and restored it reopened Oct. 11, 2006, and has become the center for performance arts in southwest Missouri. Geoff Steele, the manager of the Gillioz, remarked that because M. E. built it like he built bridges, with concrete and steel, it cost less to restore than it would have cost to tear it down.
Currently the Gillioz provides a venue for music, including rock, classical, jazz and country. Top-tier comedians perform there, and major classic films are shown monthly with trivia contests based on the year the film was released. Since the Gillioz is a nonprofit organization, operating funds and fundraising is ongoing. Donations are always welcome.
The centennial celebration
For Sunday’s centennial event, people can go to the third floor and see the office furniture from M. E. Gillioz’ office in Monett, and see some of the chairs that were in the theater when it opened. A book about the Gillioz is in the works and people can order one through gillioztheatre.com or at a merchandise table. Commemorative bottles of “Old M.E. Centennial Edition Whiskey” will be available for purchase or through the website. There will be announcements of special upcoming performances. Entertainment will be provided by Springfield performing arts organizations that office on the Gillioz third floor. And there will be birthday cake.
Geoff Steele says that it is unusual for a theater to celebrate 100 years, and since the Gillioz Theatre and the naming of Route 66 just across the street happened in the same year, he wants to make this celebration special. He hopes for a big turnout like opening night 100 years ago.
Gary Ellison served as chairman of the Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust that bought the theater in 1992.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield theater once at risk of demolition to celebrate 100 years
