From the archives, 1925: Virginia Theatre advertised a 'Special Homecoming Program' of film, song and an Illini feature

From the archives desk
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026In the Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 edition

CHAMPAIGN - One hundred one years ago this week, the Virginia Theatre advertised a "Special Homecoming Program," according to an advertisement on page 4 of the Twin City Review of Friday, Oct. 23, 1925, a Champaign labor weekly digitized by the Library of Congress. This is a historical item.

The bill was headed by Johnny Hines in the comedy The Live Wire. The ad listed added attractions: Miss Irene Beasley, billed as a "Southern Blue Singer"; a special Illini feature titled The Team On The Screen; the Skylark Quartette; popular Illini songs; and the Virginia News Weekly. It promised three complete shows on Friday and Saturday and urged patrons to attend the Friday show if possible.

On the same page, the Rialto Theatre advertised a Cecil DeMille presentation, The Coming of Amos, starring an actor the ad spells Rod La Roque, with a comedy and the International News Weekly. Its listed prices ran from 13 to 30 cents for matinees and 13 to 40 cents for evenings.

Source: Twin City Review (Champaign-Urbana), Oct. 23, 1925, page 4, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn96071000/1925-10-23/ed-1/?sp=4

Drafted by AI from the linked public source. Approved by a Daily News Editor.

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