{"nrhp_refnum":"12000322","name":"Liberty Theater","other_names":["Tilford Theatre"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"1333 Walnut","address_restricted":false,"city":"Murphysboro","county":"Jackson County","state":"IL","lat":37.76610305000003,"lon":-89.33782695499997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2012-06-13","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Entertainment/Recreation"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-and-a-half story storefront movie theater at 1333 Walnut Street in downtown Murphysboro, Illinois, opened in 1913 as the Tilford Theatre and updated in Art Deco style in 1938.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the theater reflects the history of American moviegoing, from nickelodeon-style storefront venues to Art Deco movie houses. It also documents how small-town theaters responded to longer feature films, the Depression, and wartime campaigns. It is described as the only early twentieth century film theater in the region still showing movies.","narrative":"Opened in 1913 as the Tilford Theatre, this storefront movie house at 1333 Walnut Street in downtown Murphysboro, Illinois, was one of five theaters in the town's center. It was renamed the Liberty in 1918 and remodeled in 1938 with a black vitrolite facade, marble inlay lettering, a neon trapezoid marquee and Art Deco auditorium lighting. Inside, the foyer keeps its 1913 terrazzo floor, and the dual-aisle auditorium retains its raked seating and wainscoted walls. The theater is significant for what it shows about American movie culture: the shift from short films to full-length features, the Depression-era Bank Night promotions, wartime bond sales, and the change from storefront design to Art Deco. After Kerasotes Theaters closed it in 1998, the city and Murphysboro Main Street restored it as a community venue, with a downsized marquee in 2001 and a renovation in 2002. It is described as the only early twentieth century film theater in the region still showing movies.","period_of_significance":"1913-1962","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Modern Movement: Art Deco","criteria":["A"],"status_note":"Reopened after renovation in 2002 and still operating as a theater and community venue, owned by Murphysboro Main Street.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:37.656181-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/25/8930/28893025/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/12000322.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/12000322/a9379a6985-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/12000322/a9379a6985-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_Theater_in_Murphysboro.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_Theater_in_Murphysboro.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893025","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Theater_(Murphysboro,_Illinois)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16894146"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/jackson-county/liberty-theater-12000322/"}