Rockford’s Coronado Theatre Just Got Some Major National Attention

If you've lived in the Rockford area for any amount of time, chances are you have a Coronado Theatre memory.

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Maybe it was your first concert. Maybe it was seeing a ballet performance on a grade school field trip. Maybe you dressed up for a special night out, sat in those beautiful seats and spent half the evening looking around at the incredible ceiling and decorations instead of paying attention to what was happening on stage. (I'm guilty of this every time I'm there.)

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I have been inside the Coronado more times than I can count over the years, and I honestly think it is one of Rockford's greatest gems. So when I saw that the historic theater is getting some serious national attention from Forbes, I couldn't help but feel a little proud.

Coronado Theatre Gets National Spotlight From Forbes

When I saw Go Rockford share this on Facebook, I knew I needed to hunt down the article and read it for myself.

The Forbes article, titled "Box Office Magic: Preserving America's Century-Old Theaters," had high praise for the Coronado's beautiful architecture, but I think this was my favorite part:

The Coronado is among the last surviving exemplars of its breed. The palace owes its longevity to the cadre of strong-willed Rockfordians who banded together almost three decades ago to ensure it would be saved from the wrecking ball. The group rallied around a theater that had suffered years of decline, spearheading a public-private campaign that gathered $18.5 million for its restoration.

The Coronado isn't just an old theater. It's part of Rockford's history, our memories and our future, and I hope it stays that way for a very long time.

If you've never taken a backstage tour of the Coronado before, there's a chance to do it for free on Tuesday, September 15, but you have to sign up by Monday (9/14) here.