In the spring of 2003, 18 investors pooled their resources to build the first Eagle Theater, located in Robinson, IL. Most were from the Robinson area and were led by Eric and Susan Gubelman, who provided the personal guarantees to the initial financing that involved a bank, the USDA, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Robinson Chamber of Commerce, the State Treasurer, the City of Robinson, Crawford County, and the Wabash Regional Planning Commission. (Whew!)

The corporation was named Eagle Theater to honor Eric's family, which had operated the Eagle Shoe Store in Robinson for nearly half a century before it was sold in the 1980's. The eagle is an independent bird, and this was an independent theater in an age of corporate giants.

It is that independence and small town beginning that typifies the company motto: "The movies add the magic. We add the fun." Eagle Theater Corp. has been providing fun since February 6, 2004, when the first theater opened.

The theater was unusual--it was a new venue in a very small market. City officials in Clinton, Illinois took notice that Robinson was not any bigger than Clinton, and they began discussions to bring a theater to Clinton. Under the leadership of Mayor Roger Cyrulik and later Mayor Ed Wollet, the City worked together with Eagle Theater Corp. on an incentive package using Tax Increment Financing funds to make the Clintonia Eagle possible.

While the first theater in Robinson was a rehab of an existing building, the Clintonia is an all-new structure, which increased the challenge of making the project a reality. The DeWitt County Board, the Clinton City Council and city staff members Tim Followell and Steve Vandiver were instrumental in bringing movies to Clinton.

What about the future for Eagle Theater Corp? It is hard to imagine a large chain of theaters, especially since we focus on smaller markets, which are the most fun, but the most challenging. And remember--Eagles don't flock, you have to find them one at a time!