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The Gillioz has been a part of Springfield’s history and it will hopefully be for years to come. “I worked at the Gillioz for Tindell Lewis. He hired me away from Robert’s Meat Market, which was my father’s business, while taking him some hot dogs that he had purchased. He made me fill out an application and then hired me. I remember when popcorn was sold for 15, 25, and 50 cents. Then, you received change back from $1.00 at the concession stand. I remember “Hawaii” with Julie Andrews and Richard Harris playing in the theatre.” -Jean Coberly ”I remember when two movies ran all day. There was no air-conditioner at home, so my family took a picnic lunch and went to the balcony and spread a blanket. We watched the movie until it cooled off at night and went home.” -Steve Berry |
-Dave Coonrod
“I broke the picket line and went and saw “Virginia Wolfe.”
I remember going down to St. Louis to see what was going on. There were
people everywhere protesting the movie. So, I decided myself to see what
the movie was all about. I didn’t like the movie, but stayed and
watched the whole thing.”
-Eugene Richards
“I remember going there on dates. When I was in Junior High School,
I remember seeing “Bambi”. The décor always fascinated
me. Such a beautiful theater.”
-Yvonne Bohrer
“I remember working at the Gillioz Theatre in the concession stand.”
-Eula Mae Roberts
”I remember going to movies at the Gillioz in the mid-60’s.
It was a whole other world. I remember the drapes, carpeting, and décor.
I took my children to the Gillioz. I have such fun memories.”
-Dana Gray
“I remember taking my dates to the Gillioz. I also remember the
entry walk and standing in line at the concession stand. I remember the
circular stairs and looking down on the lobby from above. It was such
a romantic place to take your date.”
-Kenny Knaurer
“The
Gillioz Theatre is where my husband and I went on our first date in 1963.
It was a movie theater then and we saw a movie called "Spencer's
Mountain." Coincidentally, I saw part of the movie filmed the summer
I worked in Yellowstone National Park.”
-Sally Chowning
”Mr. George Hunter was the District Manager at the time I worked
at the Fox Theater. Mr. Hunter would send me down to the Gillioz to help
Mr. Lewis when he was short-handed.
One of my favorite shows at the Gillioz was “Wine and Roses”
with Jack Lemmons. I remember people around me crying. It was such a wonderful
emotional picture. There was not a dry eye anywhere as people left the
theater. When the theater was closed down, the Dickinson group out of
Kansas City rented the Gillioz building. They closed the theater doors
when it was not a profit theater any longer. My husband Bill Burnett was
Executive Vice President of Dickinson when he and Nancy Brown got together
about the sale of the building. I wish the new group the best for the
future of the Gillioz to come.”
-Carol Burnett
This
site brought to you by
Ronald
and Nancy Reagan Center Jim D. Morris Arts Building
Gillioz Theatre
325 Park Central East Springfield, MO 65806 417-863-7843