Zoe Theatre

Zoe Theatre is a historic former movie theater at 209 North Madison Street in Pittsfield, Illinois. It was established by Clark Armentrout, a theater operator originally from Louisiana, Missouri, and opened to the public on September 17, 1950. Armentrout and his son Russel operated the Zoe alongside the Clark Theatre in Pittsfield and a wider group of theater properties in western Illinois and Missouri, including the Clark Drive-In at Summer Hill and theaters in Barry, Louisiana, Missouri, and Shelbina, Missouri. The theater was named after Clark Armentrout’s daughter, Zoe Armentrout. Its design was produced by Ted Dell in the Streamline Moderne style, a late form of modernist architecture associated with smooth curves, horizontal emphasis, industrial materials, and references to transportation and marine forms. The building’s exterior used structural glass, commonly called Vitrolite, together with stainless steel. Its original interior palette was rose and green, and the building incorporated a flowing marine theme. The theater was also promoted through its modern technical and customer facilities: it had an advanced automatic heating and air-conditioning system for its period, more widely spaced seating than was typical, and a dedicated room where parents could care for crying babies while remaining connected to the screening experience. The construction involved a number of regional contractors and suppliers. Eugene Dark and Sons served as general contractors, Galloway Hardware of Pleasant Hill handled sheet-metal work, Rex Fenton installed the heating and air-conditioning equipment, and Mike Carroll performed the painting. Other local businesses supplied excavation, gravel, concrete, lumber, glass, and the marquee and box office. The building’s design received an Annual Merit Award in the 1951 Theatre Catalog design review, placing it among 36 theaters nationwide and two in Illinois recognized that year. The Zoe Theatre’s original operating era ended after Clark Armentrout died in 1960, when both the Zoe and Clark Theatres closed. The property later reopened for a period, but the theater ultimately closed again in 1987 and remained vacant. In 2004, the City of Pittsfield assumed ownership and repaired the roof in 2005. Since 2008, the Zoe Preservation Society has worked to stabilize, renovate, and potentially reactivate the building as a movie theater and community asset. The effort has involved fundraising, volunteer work, public awareness activities, and educational cooperation with Pittsfield High School’s Social Problems class. A proposed renovation has not been completed, leaving the building’s long-term reuse unresolved. The nearest operating movie theater has been reported as being approximately 45 miles away in Jacksonville, Illinois. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 2013. Its significance rests both on its local role as a mid-century cinema and on the relative integrity and rarity of its Streamline Moderne theater architecture.

The Zoe Theatre was built in Pittsfield, Illinois, for theater operator Clark Armentrout and opened on September 17, 1950. Armentrout, who had originally come from Louisiana, Missouri, operated the theater with his son Russel. The family’s local business also included the Clark Theatre in Pittsfield, while other properties associated with Armentrout included the Clark Drive-In at Summer Hill and theaters in Barry, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, and Shelbina, Missouri. The theater was named for Armentrout’s daughter, Zoe Armentrout. Its building was designed by Ted Dell in the Streamline Moderne style. The exterior featured structural glass, often referred to as Vitrolite, and stainless steel, while the original color scheme used rose and green with a smooth marine-inspired motif. The design reflected the period’s emphasis on modernity, comfort, and technological progress. Facilities included an advanced automatic heating and air-conditioning system, wider-than-usual seating, and a special room for parents with babies. The entrance doors were made from solid panes of glass, with the locking and closing mechanisms concealed in narrow metal strips. Construction was carried out by a network of regional tradespeople and suppliers. Eugene Dark and Sons served as general contractors. Galloway Hardware of Pleasant Hill performed the sheet-metal work, Rex Fenton installed the heating and air-conditioning units, and Mike Carroll handled painting. Pittsfield Sand and Gravel Company excavated the site; Ed Beard supplied gravel; Frank Cawthon’s crew completed concrete work; Alexander Lumber Company supplied building materials; Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company supplied the glass; and C Bendsen Company of Decatur fabricated and installed the marquee and box office. The heating and air-conditioning equipment was located in a small basement beneath the stage. The building received an Annual Merit Award in the 1951 Theatre Catalog design review. It was one of 36 theaters across the United States and one of only two in Illinois to receive that recognition. The award reinforced the building’s architectural importance soon after its completion. After Clark Armentrout died in 1960, both the Zoe and Clark Theatres closed. The Zoe later operated for a time but closed again in 1987. It remained vacant for years, creating risks for the structure and its distinctive mid-century exterior. The City of Pittsfield assumed ownership in 2004 and repaired the roof in 2005. A preservation movement developed around the property. Beginning in 2008, the Zoe Preservation Society worked toward a full renovation and a possible return to use as a movie theater. The organization’s work has included fundraisers, volunteer activity, public education, and efforts to build community support. The group also collaborated with Pittsfield High School’s Social Problems class, whose students prepared flyers, presentations, and surveys and helped raise awareness of the building. Despite these efforts, the proposed restoration has not been completed. The theater has therefore remained a former cinema and preservation project rather than an operating commercial venue. The Zoe Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 2013. Its importance derives from its association with local cinema history, its unusual surviving Streamline Moderne design, and its continuing role in discussions about historic preservation and community reuse in Pittsfield.

1. 2013National Register listing

   The Zoe Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 2.

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2. 2008Preservation Society restoration campaign begins

   The Zoe Preservation Society began organized efforts to renovate and potentially reactivate the theater.

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3. 2005Roof repair

   The city repaired the theater’s roof to help protect the vacant structure.

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4. 2004Municipal ownership

   The City of Pittsfield assumed ownership of the property.

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5. 1987Theater closes and becomes vacant

   The building ceased operation and remained vacant thereafter.

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6. 1960Original operating period ends

   The Zoe and Clark Theatres closed after Clark Armentrout’s death.

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7. 1951Receives Theatre Catalog design award

   The theater earned an Annual Merit Award in Theatre Catalog’s annual design review.

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8. 1950Zoe Theatre opens

   Clark Armentrout opened the new movie theater in Pittsfield on September 17, 1950.

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Originally positioned as a modern local movie theater with advanced amenities and family-oriented facilities; currently recognized primarily as a historic property and preservation project.

• Movie screeningsCinema exhibition1950

  The theater’s primary historical function was the exhibition of motion pictures for Pittsfield residents and surrounding communities. It operated as a local cinema during the mid-century theater era and later ceased commercial screenings.

• Zoe Theatre buildingHistoric entertainment venue1950

  The surviving building is a Streamline Moderne theater with structural-glass and stainless-steel exterior elements, a marine-inspired design, period seating configuration, and specialized family facilities. It is now valued primarily as a historic landmark and potential community reuse site.

• 2008Zoe Preservation Society restoration campaign

  Pittsfield · Pike County · Illinois

  The Zoe Preservation Society organized fundraising, volunteer work, and public-awareness activities aimed at renovating the vacant theater and possibly returning it to movie-theater use. The effort also included educational collaboration with Pittsfield High School.

  Outcome. The campaign generated community support and preservation activity, but the proposed full renovation and reopening had not been completed according to the referenced material.

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• 2008Launch of organized preservation and reuse effortStrategy

  The long-vacant theater remained an important local landmark, while the area lacked a nearby operating movie theater.

  What changed. The Zoe Preservation Society began pursuing a comprehensive renovation and possible reactivation of the venue through fundraising, volunteers, and community education.

  Aftermath. The effort raised awareness and involved local students and residents, but the building remained inactive and the restoration was not completed in the referenced material.

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• 2004Municipal acquisition of the vacant theaterStrategy

  After the building had been vacant, the City of Pittsfield took ownership of the property.

  What changed. The city assumed responsibility for the theater and subsequently repaired its roof.

  Aftermath. Municipal ownership enabled basic stabilization and supported later preservation efforts, although the theater did not return to operation.

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• 2013Zoe Theatre added to the National Register of Historic Places

  The theater received formal National Register recognition on January 2, 2013.

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• 2008Zoe Preservation Society begins restoration effort

  The Zoe Preservation Society began working toward a comprehensive renovation and possible return of the theater to active use.

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• 2005City of Pittsfield assumes ownership and repairs roof

  The city assumed ownership in 2004 and completed roof repairs in 2005 as part of efforts to protect the vacant building.

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• 1987Zoe Theatre ceases operation and becomes vacant

  The theater closed and subsequently remained vacant for an extended period.

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• 1960Theater closes after Clark Armentrout’s death

  Following Clark Armentrout’s death, the Zoe Theatre and the Clark Theatre in Pittsfield closed.

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• 1951Zoe Theatre receives national design recognition

  The building received an Annual Merit Award in Theatre Catalog’s design review, joining a limited group of recognized theaters nationwide.

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• 1950Zoe Theatre opens in Pittsfield

  The theater opened on September 17, 1950, as a new movie venue operated by Clark Armentrout and his son Russel.

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1. Zoe Theatre