Health & Fitness
Locally Owned Liberty Theater is Full of History!
The Liberty Theater celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. New owner Scott Dehn met with me to talk about the history of the theater and his dreams for its future.
The lights flickered and the crowd settled in their seats. Anticipation was high for this special screening of “The Avengers” at the historic Liberty Theater in downtown Libertyville. The event was sponsored by Acura of Libertyville as a customer appreciation party. Scott Dehn, new owner of the Liberty Theater, welcomed the guests and played a trivia game with us complete with prizes supplied by Acura of Libertyville. I was intrigued as Scott told some of the history of the theater and how he came to be the owner. Scott agreed to meet with me later to share more information.
Scott purchased the Liberty in January, 2012, along with the McHenry drive-in theater. Owning theaters has been a dream of his and it’s coming true with his recent acquisition. As with any small business, there are challenges that go along with the advantages. It’s a testament to Scott’s character that he feels that his biggest reward is seeing how his team grows personally while working at the theater. He said that he sees them come out of their shells as they welcome guests and play trivia games with them.
Scott and his team are working hard on upgrading the interior of the theater. Soon his family and friends will gather for a painting party as they update the lobby in a fresh, romantic color scheme. It will retain its intimate and warm ambience while creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the golden age of Hollywood. Did you know that Marlon Brando was an usher at the Liberty? He mentioned it in his autobiography, “Songs My Mother Taught Me”. The Liberty was also the 1942 location of the premier of “Desperate Journey” starring Errol Flynn and Ronald Reagan!
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The Liberty Theater has two screens and a family friendly environment. They welcome business events like the Acura of Libertyville event, birthday parties and school events. I encourage you to frequent the Liberty Theater and support this small business owner who has invested in the Libertyville community. When local Coldwell Banker real estate agents are hosting an event, I will encourage them to hold it at the Liberty theater.
The Liberty Theater is located at 708 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville. For show times, call 847-362-3011
