About Us
The original space that The Vixen is located on was named Empire Theater and was constructed in 1919 by “on the road” theatrical performers, John and Mattie Smith. When the theater was first opened, it held live performances, such as vaudeville acts, as well as silent films.
Empire Theater was not only a home for movies, it was a community center, hosting fundraisers and other events. Magicians, radio celebrities, school events, the American Legion, and other groups used the theater as a venue.
John Smith passed away in 1931 and his wife Mattie retained ownership until her passing in 1937. At that time, Empire Theater Manager, Roy Miller, took over and in 1939, changed the name to the Colony Theater. It soon became one of the most popular destinations in McHenry.
McHenry lost its prize movie house on Nov 8, 1951 to a horrible fire. In the same community spirit we enjoy today, McHenry’s leading citizens came together to start rebuilding. Many of McHenry’s own residents supplied the materials, labor, and experience to revive the theater. By February of 1955, McHenry had a new theater with the name “The McHenry Theatre.”
The McHenry Theatre operated until 2014 when it was closed due to disrepair. Then in 2018, a group of community investors got together to re-design and re-build the movie theatre with modern amenities. Shortly after, in January of 2022, the COVID 19 pandemic hit and the new McHenry Downtown Theater was forced to close due to a lack of attendance and the rise of in-home movie streaming.
That same group of community investors once again reinvested and remodeled to form what’s now known as The Vixen, the area’s premiere live entertainment venue hosting live music, comedy, private events, spirits and more!