Zoe Theatre
Why it's listed
Zoe Theatre, at 209 North Madison Street in Pittsfield, Illinois, is a two-story brick movie house completed in 1950 from designs by local designer Ted Dell. It was created by completely remodeling an 1870s building that had served as an agricultural product and feed store and later an auto parts store. The square façade is covered in red, ivory and beige structural glass, with a semicircular stainless steel and porcelain enamel marquee, an illuminated attraction sign and a vertical neon "ZOE" sign above a recessed aluminum box office. Inside, the lobby, foyer and auditorium keep their original finishes, including Weldtex walls, fiberboard paneling, green tile flooring and original seating. The building is a late, restrained example of Art Moderne design with Modernist influences and retains excellent integrity. In 1951 it won a Theatre Catalog merit award, one of only two Illinois theatres honored that year. It is currently vacant, and stored glass panels and neon tubing are kept for future restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the theatre as a remarkably intact local example of late Art Moderne architecture with Modernist influences. Its structural glass façade, stainless steel and porcelain enamel marquee and neon signs survive with excellent integrity, and the interior is largely unchanged since 1950. The theatre also received a 1951 Theatre Catalog Annual Merit Award, one of only two Illinois theatres to do so.
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 12001116, listed January 2, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 209 N. Madison St., Pittsfield |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | January 2, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001116 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Ted Dell (designer) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Art Moderne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use. Some structural glass panels and neon tubing are missing but stored in the building, and a leaky roof was repaired in 2005. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.61025, -90.80644 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 12001116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23822826
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.