Salem, Illinois, the county seat of Marion County, has a 2024 population of 6,961.
Salem was founded in 1823 and was for decades a sundown town with signs on each main road going into town telling African Americans that they were not allowed in town after sundown.
As in ever so many smaller Midwest communities, Salem is currently declining at a rate of -1.08% annually and its population has decreased by -4.18% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 7,265 in 2020.
In January 1938, with construction completed, the Salem movie theater opened.
Salem, Illinois.A local family operated the motion picture theater until they sold it to the Kerasotas theater chain in 1982.
Kerasotas ran it as $1 admission rerun movie theater, until it was closed in the late 1990's. They sold the building to the City of Salem for $1.
In March 2001, the Salem Community Theatre and Cultural Center was incorporated promising to bring culture and entertainment to Salem. In 2019 under their supervision, renewal / repair construction on the theater was completed.
Today, The Salem Community Theater & Cultural Center offers live theatrical performances, musicals, movies, educational presentations.
All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.
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