Liberty Theater
Also known as: Tilford Theatre
Why it's listed
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.
Significance in brief: 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.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000322, listed June 13, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1333 Walnut, Murphysboro |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | June 13, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000322 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-1962 |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Reopened after renovation in 2002 and still operating as a theater and community venue, owned by Murphysboro Main Street. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.76610, -89.33783 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000322.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16894146
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.