Von Lee Theatre

HISTORY 

In 1928 the Von Lee Theatre was built, however, at the time it was called The Ritz which was a movie theatre at the time and shared a name with a barber shop nearby. The design was made by John Nichols who had also made the Princess Theater, Allen Building etc. 

A Little bit before, in 1922, the Vonderschmitt's had also made the Buskirk Chumley. Which is Incase you didn't know, where the biggest plays in  Bloomington happen for the big stage with great lighting.

Not too long after the Ritz opened, WWII started and it turned into a  grocery store in 1930 called: ‘Peterson’s Market’ until 1948 when the Vonderschmitt family purchased it and turned it into said theatre. After the building was bought, it was named Von Lee after their granddaughter: ’Barbara Lee’.

Throughout  the 1970s the Vonderschmitt hosted several film festivals, consisting of art films, foreign films, and independent films.

However, in 2005 the owners had planned to demolish the building for an unknown reason. But the community disagreed and ended up keeping this historic building from such action.