The Wildey Theatre

The grand Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois represents a fantastic venue in which you can step into history. Quite literally, in fact, because the theatre was designated a local historic landmark in 1984.

Originally operating as an opera house in 1909, the Wildey has seen many changes over the last hundred-plus years.  After its time as an opera house, the Wildey became THE movie theater in town. Until 1984’s premiere of “The Big Chill”, it operated as the most renowned cinema around. It was then purchased by the City of Edwardsville to ensure its preservation. After being closed for some time, the Wildey Theatre reopened as a live music and classic movie venue, and it remains as a host for these events honor the theatre’s grand history of opera and classics.

Now, it gives the artists of today the opportunity to perform while the movies of yesteryear live on in public memory. For a sense of history, music, and film all come together to the Wildey today what it is today.