Circa

Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, also known as the Fort Armstrong Circa '21, is a historic venue that combines theatrical entertainment with a dining experience. Located in the Quad Cities area, the playhouse is housed in the Fort Armstrong Theatre, which has a rich history dating back to its opening on January 19, 1921. The theatre was inaugurated during the silent movie era with the film "Midsummer Madness" by William DeMille, featuring a ten-piece orchestra, musical and comedic acts, and an appearance by Lila Lee, the film's co-star. The event was celebrated with telegrams from notable figures such as Paramount Pictures President Adolf Zukor, director Cecil B. DeMille, and comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. The Fort Armstrong Theatre, designed by architect Benjamin Horn of Cervin & Horn, is an impressive three-story Art Deco-style building adorned with Indian red brick and polychrome terra cotta, which was specifically designed by Rudolph Sandberg and produced by the Midland Terra Cotta Company of Chicago. The building's exterior is characterized by its curved northeast corner on the 3rd Avenue facade, the tympanum-like areas above each window, and thematic terra cotta designs that include symbols representative of Illinois, such as spears, arrows, birds, snakes, and corn. Transitioning from silent films to "talkies" in 1929, the theatre was a testament to the faith investors Walter Rosenfield and Joseph Hopp had in both the film industry and the future Quad Cities. The theatre's construction cost of $500,000 was a significant investment at the time, purportedly representing one dollar for each brick used in the building's exterior. The Fort Armstrong Theatre operated as a movie theatre for 55 years, with various operators adding their own modernizing touches. However, the competition from newer, more efficient mall theatres and the increasing costs of operation led to a decline in ticket sales, threatening the theatre's survival. In August of 1976, Denny Hitchcock purchased the theatre and undertook extensive remodeling. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse was born in June of 1977, introducing a Las Vegas-styled seating arrangement with a capacity of 334 seats on the main floor. The playhouse quickly became a professional theatre landmark in the Quad Cities. In 1978, the Fort Armstrong Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its historical significance. The concept of a dinner theatre was novel to the Quad Cities when Circa '21 opened, and it has since presented over 250 productions, including comedies, dramas, musicals, mysteries, and children's shows. The playhouse has also hosted celebrity attractions such as Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, Phyllis Diller, Pat Boone, The Smothers Brothers, The Lettermen, Dennis Miller, and Roseanne. Notably, Circa '21 is one of only two dinner theatres in the country with a performing wait staff known as The Bootleggers. In 2001, in celebration of its 25th Anniversary Season, Circa '21 underwent a $225,000 renovation that included repainting the interior, renovating the restrooms, recarpeting the entire theatre, and installing a new marquee that replicates the original from 1920. Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse continues to offer a unique experience to its patrons, combining quality entertainment with an elegant atmosphere, and is dedicated to preserving the historical and cultural legacy of the Fort Armstrong Theatre.