To see the Wildey Theatre's live music & event schedule click HERE!

The Wildey Theatre is a premier gathering spot for cultural events along Route 66. Built in 1909 as an opera house and designed by St. Louis architect G.H. Kennerly, the original theatre cost around $30,000. The Wildey was once the largest stage south of Chicago in Illinois, able to host around 1,000 guests- an equal to theatres in larger cities with 500 main seats, 300 balcony and gallery seats, and fifty box seats. The theatre even boasted electricity and an electric chandelier which was installed just two days before its grand opening.

Organized by the Independent Order of Oddfellows, the theatre served as a meeting hall and began hosting vaudeville shows and performances soon after opening- the first performance was a comedy called ‘Girl at the Helm’. The theatre acquired a mobile screen and projection booth for early films and in 1937 the theatre was remodeled again to cater to “talking movies” along with updating the interior from a Victorian to an Art Deco design.

Nights at The Wildey consisted of a variety of entertainment- from live music and dance to comedy performances, school plays, lectures, commencement exercises, and film showings- the building served as a thriving community center in the heart of Edwardsville for over 75 years.

In 1984, The Wildey was shuttered. The aging structure was in poor repair and had suffered damage from a tornado that blew down a part of the building during a showing of the film ‘Footloose’. The future of Edwardsville’s iconic theatre was uncertain until 1999 when the city sought to secure state funding to purchase the building. An Edwardsville City Alderman at the time, Rich Walker, spearheaded fundraising efforts to restore The Wildey and, after a twelve-year process, community members were able to raise $3 Million.

In 2011, The Wildey finally welcomed visitors once again. Today, the landmark theatre shows new and classic films, hosts live entertainment, and has returned to serving the community as a hub for events of all kinds.