This historic movie theater in Belleville is about to begin featuring live concerts

Going back to their roots as a vaudeville house in the 1920s, Lincoln Theatre owner Dave Schoenborn said adding live music concerts at the venerable movie theater is a way to stay in business beyond a century.

This spring, the Live at the Lincoln series will feature well-known artists and local favorite groups in concert, including Wynonna Judd — a return engagement — on Saturday, April 23; Colin Hay, the former lead singer of the Australian band Men at Work and a solo artist with 13 albums, Monday, March 21; and Pure Country, a tribute to Alan Jackson performed by Tim Campbell and the Chattahoochee band and a tribute to the women of country music by Vicki Rolens, on Saturday, April 2.

Expect more to follow now that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have relaxed after two years of dealing with a public health crisis.

“Now that it’s warmer weather, we’ll see more people come back, and it’s exciting,” Schoenborn said. “We want people to have a great time with good music.”

The theater seats 540. Their proscenium arch was restored in the 1980s, giving the space a special appearance.

“It is really the best small concert venue in the metro-east,” Schoenborn said. “All seats have great views of the stage. We don’t have a nose bleed section or huge projection monitors for you to watch the show on because most seats are less than 50 feet away from the artist.

They are drawing patrons from southern Illinois and metro-east residents pleased they don’t have to drive to St. Louis.

“We see people from Mount Vernon and other places in southern Illinois. They don’t have as far of a drive to St. Louis,” he said. “They come for dinner. They can sit — they don’t have to stand to hear music.”

Convincing artists’ management of the theater’s intimate aspect was important to attracting artists, Schoenborn said.

“We’re getting better opportunities,” he said. “We are an unknown venue. But fans can be very close. They don’t need big-screen TVs to see them. They can see them in living color — the whites of their eyes.”

When they first booked Wynonna and her band — the Big Noise, for Feb. 20, 2020 — her management was concerned they might not sell as much merchandise as they do at larger houses, but were pleasantly surprised it exceeded their expectations, he said. Now they are coming back April 23.

“She had a great time here,” Schoenborn said. “The people of Belleville put out a welcome mat for everybody.”

These pleasant experiences and amenities are helping them attract more name artists and appeal to ticket-buyers.

“We’re not a club, or a pole barn with 2,000 to 5,000 people standing. But we’re like a mini version of the Fox Theatre. Everybody is seated and we have great sound — the acoustics are outstanding because we were built as a vaudeville house.”

They do offer a full bar at the concerts — beer and wine are for sale during movies — and the full concessions of a movie theater, including their highly praised popcorn — either regular or Abe’s Gourmet flavors.

“People were always telling us that we had the best popcorn, so that’s why we expanded with Abe’s Gourmet flavors,” he said. In addition to the shop next door, it’s available at Eckert’s and other local retailers.

Past successes pre-pandemic

Ramping up for their 100th anniversary in 2021, their first concert was a Frankenstein Bash on Oct. 28, 2018, featuring the Edgar Winter Group, with a Doors tribute band, Morrison Hotel, as the opening act.

Edgar Winter is a prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for 1970s smash hits “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride,” from his double-platinum 1973 album “They Only Come Out at Night,” but he encompasses several genres of music, including rock, jazz, blues, and pop.

Country artist Jo Dee Messina, who had six number one singles, along with special guest Alexandra Kay, a rising country singer from Waterloo, appeared Aug. 1, 2019.

Schoenborn said the concert was very popular with their fans and drew 500 people.

“It was really big for us,” he said.

Schoenborn wants to appeal to a wide range of music fans.

More About the Artists

Colin Hay, frontman for the 80s group Men at Work, has written and released some 13 solo albums, one of the latest was “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” an album of cover material. His new album of original material, Now and the Evermore, was released March 18. This summer, he will tour with Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band. Colin is also a touring member of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band who are touring in summer of 2022.

Colin is also a touring member of Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band who are touring in summer of 2022. The concert is at 8 p.m. Monday, March 21, and is reserved seating.

Pure County is the first ever combination of two popular country acts — Chattahoochee, a tribute to Alan Jackson performed by Tim Campbell and the Chattahoochee Band. They will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2 — all ages, open seating.

Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all-time — The Judds — selling over 20-million records worldwide.

A five-time Grammy Award winner in her own right, and recipient of over 60 top industry awards, Wynonna holds multiple platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA of over 10-million units sold for albums released throughout her impressive 30-year solo career.

She is bringing her “Herstory and Hits” Tour to Belleville on Saturday, April 23. It is reserved seating.

Downtown Belleville as a Destination

The historic theater at 103 E. Main St. has been there since 1921 — on that same corner.

“We’re trying to adapt,” Schoenborn said. “We’ve made upgrades.”

They offer theater rentals and birthday parties now.

“We may look dark, but there are things going on here all the time,” he said.

Schoenborn and his wife, Sandy, took over theater operations in 2007 after her father, Richard Wright, had suffered a stroke. Wright and his wife Betty bought it from California-based Mann Theatres in 1980. Wright had been the general manager of BAC Cinema in Belleville.

Proud of theater

Schoenborn is proud the Lincoln has been operated by the same family for 40 years.

“How many 100-year-old businesses can say that?” he remarked.

They never closed, except for COVID-19. Now the theater — in a sign of the times, especially during the school year — is not currently showing movies Monday through Wednesday, and is only open Thursday through Sunday.

The downtown Belleville corridor is special, he said. People can come and dine, shop, and walk around.

“We have great dining, great retailers. We’re boosting the city’s appeal,” Schoenborn said.

He suggested people sign up for notices in their email. Those on the list get a two-day head start on the concert tickets

For more information

Visit www.LincolnTheatre-Belleville.com for a complete schedule.

Tickets can be purchased online, at the box office and Abe’s Gourmet popcorn shop at 101 E Main St, Belleville IL.

All online ticket sales are placed in free will call. People may pick up their tickets at the Box-Office or Abe’s Gourmet Popcorn shop next to the lobby any time after your purchase.

This story was originally published March 20, 2022 at 6:00 AM.