Catlow Theatre
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Why it's listed
Built in 1927 in the center of downtown Barrington, Illinois, the Catlow Theatre is a small movie and vaudeville house in the Tudor Revival style. Wright Catlow, son of a local businessman who ran a community auditorium, built it after long wanting a real movie theatre in the village. The architects were Betts & Holcomb, and Alfonso Iannelli designed the interior. The building combines a two-story section with two storefronts and three apartments, a front-gabled entrance with half-timbering, and a large auditorium behind. Brown brick, dressed limestone, slate roofing and wood timbers shape the exterior. Inside, the entrance hall, lobby and auditorium carry a medieval theme through exposed trusses, stenciling, murals, wrought iron fixtures and an Iannelli sculpture. The auditorium seats over 400. The theatre has operated continuously since opening and retains most original materials. It is recognized for its place in local entertainment history during the heyday of movies in the 1920s and 1930s, and as a representative 1920s theatre design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the theatre is significant under Criterion A for entertainment and recreation history in Barrington, reflecting the growth of the movie industry in American culture in the 1920s and 1930s. Under Criterion C it is a representative example of one of the stylistic interpretations of 1920s theatre design, with interior design by Alfonso Iannelli.
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 89001112, listed August 21, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 112--116 W. Main St., Barrington |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | August 21, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001112 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Betts, William E. and Holcomb, -- (Architects); Iannelli, Alfonso (Interior Designer) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Has operated continuously as the Catlow Theatre since 1927; exterior in very good condition, auditorium in generally good condition with some deferred maintenance, and backstage area in disrepair. Storefronts house a restaurant and a dentist's office, and the apartments remain residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Barrington Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.15442, -88.13661 (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 89001112.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5053572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.