Illinois Theater the longest-operating movie theater in the city of Jacksonville Illinois is making the transition to digital cinema. Illinois Theater first opened its doors in the late 1800’s as the Grand Opera House. It was renamed the Illinois Theater in 1927 when it was owned and operated by the Fox Theatre Corporation. A decade later the theater was demolished by a fire and again reopened in 1939. Originally a single-screen venue upgrades over the years added four more screens to its current total of five. Additionally the digital conversion is just one element of a total facility renovation which includes upgrades in electricity heating seats and new screens. The theatre has signed an agreement with Sony Digital Cinema’s Virtual Print Fee program which is the only program available through March 31 2013. “Sony’s VPF program offered lower upfront costs and better overall options ” said Peter Karras co-owner of Illinois Theater. “We worked closely with Sony to customize the program to what we needed.” “This was an exciting project working with a historic venue like Illinois Theater to provide the right program to fit its needs ” said Christopher Simpson national account manager for Sony Electronics’ Digital Cinema Solutions Group.”
