FCC Public File – contact: Ken Anderson (618) 997-1500
The History of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center and WBVN
Current statistics:
First Sell-out was Phillips Craig and Dean in 1993
The most appearances as of December 2023 has been NewSong (27) beginning in 1996.
Mark Schultz (22) since 2001 and Big Daddy Weave (21) since 2002
The following is a Historical List of WBVN’s Concert Series…Thank you all that have shared these nights with us and helped make the Series a successful outreach of this radio station. Concerts have played a major role in what we believe this ministry is supposed to be doing for our listeners and their friends and families.
1990-1999
06/01/90 Farrell & Farrell
07/27/90 Rich Mullins
01/19/91 Bryan Duncan
03/22/91 David Meece
05/31/91 Jerome Olds
07/19/91 Wayne Watson
12/14/91 Bruce Carroll
01/25/92 Geoff Moore
03/12/92 Margaret Becker
03/22/92 Randy Stonehill
05/29/92 Steve Camp
07/17/92 Wes King
09/14/92 Ray Boltz
10/09/92 Brian Becker
01/08/93 Phillips, Craig and Dean
03/13/93 Kim Boyce
05/01/93 Ray Boltz
05/29/93 Bryan Duncan
07/02/93 Charlie Peacock
09/10/93 Phillip Sandifer
10/08/93 Margaret Becker
11/06/93 Mark Lowery
12/11/93 Phillips, Craig and Dean
02/19/94 Bob Carlisle
04/08/94 Susan Ashton Tour
06/03/94 Out of the Grey
08/27/94 Paul Smith
10/31/94 Geoff Moore and the Distance
12/10/94 Aaron Jeoffrey
01/28/95 Wes King
03/17/95 Phillips, Craig and Dean
05/20/95 Kim Boyce
06/17/95 Clay Crosse
07/22/95 Guardian
08/26/95 Aaron Jeoffrey
10/03/95 Wes King Tour
11/21/95 Rich Mullins Tour
01/06/96 Bruce Carroll/ Michael James
2/10/96 Bryan Duncan
03/12/96 Geoff Moore and the Distance
05/03/96 NewSong
07/06/96 Gary Chapman
08/24/96 Cindy Morgan
09/28/96 Randy Stonehill
11/23/96 Margaret Becker
03/07/97 Michael O’Brien (Last old Civic Center)
06/20/97 Guardian (SIC)
08/16/97 Bruce Carroll (RLC)
09/26/97 NewSong (SIU)
01/10/98 John Cox (JALC)
03/20/98 Randy Stonehill (JALC)
05/02/98 Bryan Duncan (JALC)
07/25/98 Scott Krippayne (JALC)
10/02/98 Phillips, Craig & Dean (SIU)
11/21/98 Wes King (JALC)
01/09/99 The Normals (JALC)
03/04/99 FFH
04/10/99 John Cox
06/26/99 Satellite Soul
08/07/99 Nichole Nordeman
09/09/99 Margaret Becker/ Ashley Cleveland
11/04/99 Phil Keaggy
2000-2009
01/08/00 Russ Lee
02/18/00 FFH
03/25/00 NewSong
05/05/00 Big Tent Revival
06/17/00 Natalie Grant
07/06/00 Chris Taylor Youth Event
08/26/00 John Cox
09/30/00 Ragamuffin Band/ Ashley Cleveland
11/04/00 Geoff Moore
03/17/01 Andrew Peterson
05/26/01 Phil Keaggy
08/04/01 Mark Schultz
09/18/01 Michael Card
10/23/01 Andrew Peterson
01/11/02 John Cox
03/08/02 Layton Howerton
05/04/02 Mark Schultz
07/27/02 Steve Wiggins
09/21/02 Big Daddy Weave
03/17/03 John Cox
05/17/03 Andrew Peterson
8/9/03 Bryan Duncan
11/08/03 Downhere
04/03/04 Axiom
07/17/04 Mark Schultz (NEW Marion CCC)
11/19/04 NewSong
01/14/05 John Cox/ Axiom
03/05/05 4 Him
05/06/05 Mark Schultz (DVD recording) 2 concerts
07/16/05 NewSong
09/27/05 Mark Schultz ‘DVD Release’
09/30/05 Phillips, Craig and Dean 01/20/06 Point of Grace
03/25/06 Todd Agnew/Big Daddy Weave 07/07/06 Point of Grace
09/30/06 Mark Schultz/Big Daddy Weave/Klinkenberg
01/13/07 Watermark / John Cox
03/29/07 The Rock and The Rabbi
03/30/07 The Rock and The Rabbi
03/31/07 The Rock and The Rabbi
05/19/07 Peter Penrose
07/14/07 33 Miles
08/05/07 Andrew Carlton /Adam Cunningham
09/08/07 Big Daddy Weave
11/10/07 NewSong
01/12/08 Mark Schultz (matinee)
1/12/08 Mark Schultz (Evening)
02/02/08 Randy Stonehill
03/15/08 Shane and Shane
04/24/08 Phil Keaggy
06/14/08 Rush of Fools
06/15/08 Andrew Carlton/ John Cox
08/23/08 Bryan Duncan
09/13/08 NewSong/FrancescaBattistelli/NateSallie/TNolan
11/08/08 Big Daddy Weave/Rush of Fools
01/10/09 Christy Nockels/ Ronnie Freeman
02/07/09 Michael O’Brien
04/18/09 Shane and Shane
05/28/09 iShine 06/13/09 33 Miles/ Andrew Carlton
08/20/09 Glory Revealed
09/12/09 Mark Schultz/PointofGrace (matinee)
09/12/09 Mark Schultz/ Point of Grace (Evening)
11/06/09 Margaret Becker
12/11/09 NewSong/BigDaddyWeave/Francesca Battistelli
2010-2019
02/06/10 Downhere
03/20/10 Michael O’Brien
04/22/10 Rush of Fools
05/22/10 Barlow Girl
06/17/10 Mark Schultz
08/07/10 Francesca Battistelli
09/11/10 Big Daddy Weave/ Aaron Shust
12/09/10 NewSong/Newsboys
12/10/10 NewSong/Newsboys
01/29/11 Building 429’s Winterblast
03/03/11 Watersedge studio
03/12/11 Bebo Norman
04/30/11 Andrew Peterson/ Laura Story
07/09/11 Harris III
08/27/11 Jason Gray/ Finding Favour
10/07/11 Mark Schultz/33Miles/Finding Favour
12/09/11 NewSong/Kutless/August/Grace
01/28/12 Laura Story/An Epic, No Less
03/24/12 BigDaddyWeave/MIKESCHAIR/KerrieRoberts
05/12/12 Lincoln Brewster
08/04/12 Abandon/Anthem Lights/Watersedge
09/27/12 MatthewWest/MIKESCHAIR/LMcCaul/Everfound
12/07/12 NewSong/B429/FrancescaBattistelli/JonnyDiaz
12/19/12 Michael O’Brien
01/19/13 MIKESCHAIR/Citizen Way
02/18/13 SanctusReal/JJHeller/Unspoken/BreadOfStone
04/06/13 Mark Schultz/Aaron Shust/Jonny Diaz
05/11/13 Chonda Pierce/Geoff Moore
07/27/13 for King & Country/Moriah Peters
09/21/13 BigDaddyWeave/CAugust/Unspoken(BDWDVDRecording)
11/03/13 Veggie Tales Live!
12/10/13 NewSong/AudioA/SidewalkProphets/JCastro/L&TO
01/24/14 Phillips, Craig & Dean
04/13/14 Acts The 3-Man Show-Drama
04/26/14 Ragamuffin Movie
05/10/14 Sidewalk Prophets/City Harbor/About A Mile
07/19/14 for King & Country
09/20/14 Mark Schultz/Sarah Reeves
11/01/14 BigDaddyWeave/ChrisAugust/Group1Crew/DaraMaclean
12/09/14 NewSong/FrancescaBattistelli/SanctusReal/JoshWilson
01/24/15 Josh Wilson
02/20/15 Ken Davis
04/18/15 WBVN Family Night
05/18/15 Sidewalk Prophets
07/18/15 The City Harmonic/We Are Messengers
09/18/15 Big Daddy Weave/Jason Gray/Citizen Way (Night 1)
09/19/15 Big Daddy Weave/Jason Gray/Citizen Way (Night 2)
10/02/15 NewSong Pop-Up Rehearsal
10/24/15 Jeff Allen (Comedian)
12/08/15 NewSong/Plumb/ Building429/RENO
01/23/16 Josh Wilson
02/20/16 Ken Davis
03/24/16 Mark Schultz
05/14/16 Jason Gray w/ Scott MacIntyre
06/24/16 August Rain w/Darren Mulligan
09/23/16 Phillips, Craig & Dean 25th Anniversary Tour
10/21/16 Big Daddy Weave/Plumb/We Are Messengers (night 1)
10/22/16 Big Daddy Weave/Plumb/We Are Messengers(night 2)
12/08/16 NewSong/MatthewWest/ Love&theOutcome/Reno/ JaredEmerson
01/28/17 Russ Taff
03/11/17 Mark Schultz
05/20/17 We Are Messengers
07/15/17 Chris August
09/30/17 Iron Bell
11/11/17 Big Daddy Weave/We Are Messengers/Micah Tyler
12/16/17 NewSong/Crowder/Sarah Reeves (matinee)
12/16/17 NewSong/Crowder/Sarah Reeves (evening)
01/19/18 Taylor Mason
03/10/18 Unspoken/David Dunn
05/19/18 Iron Bell
07/14/18 MARK SCHULTZ #200 BVN Event!
09/15/18 David Dunn/ Axiom Worship
10/20/18 Carrollton
12/15/18 NewSong/Colton Dixon/Unspoken/Bethany Cruz
01/26/19 Taylor Mason
02/16/19 Lost In Wonder: Andrew Peterson/Sally Lloyd-Jones
03/09/19 Big Daddy Weave
04/26/19 We Are Messengers with JJ Weeks
06/28/19 Steven McWhirter and Iron Bell
08/23/19 Russ & Tori Taff (concert & movie)
10/19/19 Bryan Duncan
12/14/19 NewSong/Mac Powell/Citizen Way (Matinee)
12/14/19 NewSong/Mac Powell/Citizen Way (Evening)
2020-Present
3/14/20 Mark Schultz (for the 20th time)
06/05/21 Mark Schultz 21 in 21!
07/09/21 Big Daddy Weave
08/06/21 We Are Messengers
12/11/21 NewSong/Big Daddy Weave
04/23/22 Phil Joel
06/18/22 Taylor Mason
09/17/22 David Leonard
10/15/22 Petra 50th Anniversary Tour
12/10/22 NewSong/Francesca Battistelli
01/14/23 David Leonard
04/06/23 NewSong Easter Concert (w/Renee)
07/22/23 Unspoken
09/16/23 Mark Schultz Birthday Concert #22 time
12/09/23 NewSong/Jeremy Camp #26 time (VMCT began 2009)
01/20/24 Jason Gray
03/15/24 We Are Messengers/Ben Fuller/Jonathan Traylor
07/20/24 Big Daddy Weave #21/Austin French/Hannah Kerr
10/04/24 David Huff/Jesus Revolution
10/24/24 Ben Fuller Band
12/14/24 Newsong #27 time/Chris Ekiss/Katy Nichole
01/18/25 Jason Gray/Mark Shultz #23 time
03/08/25 Katy Nichole/Dan Bremness
04/25/25 Mark Shultz Worship #24 time
07/12/25 We Are Messengers / Band Reeves
08/22/25 Ben Fuller / Cade Thompson – Tickets available!
The Marion Cultural and Civic Center is located in the southwest corner of the Tower Square Plaza in the City of Marion. The original building was built as a movie theater and vaudeville showplace.
Construction began early in 1919, and it opened its doors to the public on January 2, 1922. At that time it was a vaudeville/movie house known as the Orpheum Playhouse. It was the latest in design and theatrical equipment and could seat 1500 people. Some of the leading stars of that era made appearances on its stage: Harry Houdini, Tom Mix and His Wonder Horse, The Ziegfield Follies, Anna Case, star soprano of the Metropolitan Opera, Bebe Daniels, and the doll of the stage, Barbara Bronell, who appeared in “Listen To Me” and “The Broadway Jingles.”
The first improvements to be made to the playhouse were in 1927. With the innovation of the “talkies,” $10,000 worth of sound reproducing equipment was purchased and installed to show the first talking movie, The Jazz Singer, featuring Al Jolson.
The loss of attendance and revenue, along with the increasing high cost of maintenance, forced the playhouse to close its doors in 1971. For the next few years the building lay idle and deteriorating. But in 1973 the City of Marion purchased the building and property for a modest sum of $11,000. No firm decision was made as to what the city would do with the property. Several ideas were suggested, but a new concept came about during this period —the civic center, a multi-purpose building that could be used for all types of entertainment, town meetings, forums and conventions was created.
The city council made a decision to hire a local contractor to make an evaluation of the building and to submit an estimated cost of repairs for their consideration. The contractor found this building to be structurally sound, but in need of a tremendous amount of repair before it would be safe for public use. Once the evaluation and estimates were received by the city council, a decision was made to appropriate $140,000 toward the renovation.
On May 9, 1975, Mayor Butler cut the ribbon at the grand-opening. Will Rogers, Jr., was the featured artist of the evening.
Since it re-opened its doors in 1975, two former presidents, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, have appeared on its stage. Music and television stars Red Skelton, Mickey Rooney, Donald O’Connor, and Gordon MacRae, along with country music stars Randy Travis and Mel Tellis, and the outstanding piano virtuoso, Van Cliburn, have adorned its stage. Some big name bands famous during the 40s and 50s-Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Guy Lombardo and Doc Severinson-have made several appearances at the center.
WBVN has been a frequent patron of the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, enjoying the use of this venue to bring Contemporary Christian artists to Southern Illinois. The last WBVN concert in the old civic center was CCM artist Michael O’Brien on Friday, March 7, 1997. Three days later the 75-year-old civic center burned down. After producing concerts in various locations including SIU’s Shryock Auditorium, the SIU Arena, Rend Lake College, Southeastern Illinois College, and frequently in the John A. Logan Auditorium, we finally established a series of concerts at the Aldersgate Methodist Church, near the original WBVN studios located in the warehouse at Sherlock Holmes Mobile Homes east of Marion.
In 2004 the New Marion Cultural and Civic Center was opened and we began a long run of concerts again at the original location of many of our early concert series. Our first concert in the rebuilt civic center was Mark Schultz on July 17, 2004 to a sold-out crowd. We would on May 6th, 2005, host the filming of Mark’s DVD, A Night of Stories and Songs. We filmed two separate concerts with over 1800 people in attendance for a matinee and evening event.