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Movie Theater Index

What follows is a comprehensive, though not exhaustive, summary of Chicago-area movie theaters in existence during the 1920 and 1930s, a period marked by the construction of numerous "movie palaces" and the huge popularity of the new "talkies" among Chicago movie-goers.

Early Theaters | Theaters A-E | Theaters F-N | Theaters O-Z | Suburban Theaters


Theater Location Yr Built Opening Yr Razed Seats Circuits Formats Present Condition Other
Famous 3644 W Chicago - - - 600 L M Church A,B,C
Fashion 557 S State - - - 242 - M Demolished A,B,C
Fischer's Paramount 36 S State - - - - - M - A
Florence Chicago and Western - - - - - M - -
Folly 526 S State - - - - - M - B
400 see Regent -
Francis 2405 W Roosevelt - - - 287 - M - B,C
Franklin 328 E 31st 1908-09 - - 730 - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Frolic 951 E 55th 1915 - - 899 AB M Demolished A,B,C,P
Fountain 344 E 35th - - - - - M - -
Gaelic 2425 W 47th 1914 - - 299 - M - A,B,C,P
Garden 3305 N Marshfield - - - 1077 - M Demolished A,C
Garden 1219 W Taylor - - - 265 - M Demolished A,B,C
Garfield 5535 S Halsted - - - 300 - M - A,C
Garfield 2844 W Madison 1909 - - 700 - M Demolished A,B,C,M2,S2
Garrick (Schiller) 64 W Randolph 1892 - 1961 1257 - M Demolished B,C
Gateway 5216 W Lawrence 1930 - - 2045 P,BK M Cultural center -
Gayety Hippodrome 9205 S Commercial - - 1982 850 - M Burned 1982; demolished A,B,C
Gem 450 S State - - - 434 - M Demolished A,B,C
Glen 2852 W Armitage - - - 299 - M - C
Glickman's Palace 1145 Blue Island - - - - - M - A,B
Gold 3411 W Roosevelt 1914 8/8/14 - 752 - M Demolished A,B,C
Granada 6427 N Sheridan 1926 9/18/26 1990 3700 MB,P,BK M Demolished B,C
Grand 1525 S Crawford - - - 299 - M Disused A,B,C
Grand 3435 W North - - - 565 - M Demolished A,B,C
Grand 3110 S State 1910 - - 800 - V,M Demolished A,B,C
Grayland 3940 N Cicero 1909 - - 299 - M Retail store A,B,C,S2,T
Grove 7260 S Cottage Grove 1925-26 5/12/26 - 1946 WB M - B,C
Groveland 3123 S Cottage Grove - - - 400 - M - B,C
Halfield 5451 S Halsted 1912-13 - - 994 S M - A,C
Halsted 320 S Halsted 1913 - - 725 - M - A,B,C
Halsted Street 6202 S Halsted - - - - - M - A
Halster see Tulane B
Hamilton 2150 E 71st 1916 - - 999 CB,WB M - A,B,C
Hamlin 2051 W Belmont - - - 298 - M - B,C
Hamlin 3826 W Madison 1910 10/10 - 1015 - M,V - A,B,C
Harding 1316 E 55th 1909 - - 615 - M - B,C,P
Harding 1541 W Division - - - 500 - M - C
Harding 2724 N Milwaukee 1924 10/12/25 1960 2861 LT,BK M Demolished B,C
Harding 600 State - - - - - M - A
Harmony 2639 W Division - - - 292 - M - A,C
Harmony 411 E 43rd - - - 593 - M - A,B,C
Harper 5236 S Harper 1914 - - 1198 S M Closed 2002 A,B,C
Harris 180 N Dearborn - - 1999 - - M Demolished (facade remains) B
Harrison 503 S Kedzie - - - 570 - M Demolished A,B,C
Harvard 6312 S Harvard 1914 - - 720 - M Closed 1951 A,B,C
Hegewisch 13320 S Baltimore - - - - - M - A,B
Highland 7859 S Ashland 1925 5/15/26 - 2086 AB,WB M,V Church / community center B,C
Highway 6329 S Western 1924 11/26/24 - 998 BK M - B,C
Hillside 1519 W 69th - - - 299 - M - A,C
Hollywood 1500 W Fullerton 1925-26 - - 1200 - M Demolished C,P,S2
Homan 3346 W 26th 1910 - - 341 - M Retail Store A,B,C,S2,T
Home 4815 W Armitage - - - 298 - M - B,C
Home 1812 W Chicago 1913 - - 290 - M Disused A,B,C,S2,T
Home 4427 N Elston - - - - - M - A
Home 5037 S Halsted 1913-14 - - 296 - M - A,C,P
Home 3749 W 26th - - - 297 - M - A,B,C
Howard 1621 W Howard 1917 5/4/18 - 1699 BK M Converted to condos, 1999-2000 A,B,C
Hoyne 2110 W Roscoe - - - 299 - M - C,S2
Hub 1744 W Chicago 1913 - - 769 - M Disused A,B,C
Hyde Park 5314 S Hyde Park - - - 622 - M - A,C
Ideal 1622 N Larrabee 1914 - - 698 - M Demolished A,B,C
Illington 2118 W 22nd 1915-16 - - 899 - M - A,B,C
Imperial 2339 W Madison 1910 - 1994 1266 - M Demolished A,B,C
Independence 3723 W Roosevelt 1912 - - 658 - M Demolished A,B,C
Indiana 219 E 43rd 1910 - - 786 - V,M - A,C
International 9223 S Commercial - - - 272 - M - C
Iris 5747 W Chicago 1912 - - 895 - M Church A,B,C,S2
Irving 1310 S Halsted - - - 298 - M - A,B,C
Irving Park (Irving) 4003 W Irving Park 1916 9/1/17 - 1396 - M Demolished A,B,C
Jackson Park 6711 S Stony Island 1916 - - 1473 - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Janet 617 W North - - - 299 - M Demolished A,B,C
Jefferson 1523 E 55th 1910 3/10/10 - 654 - V,M - A,C
Jeffrey 1952 E 71st 1924 - - 1796 CB,WB M,V - B,C
Jingles 2220 N Robey - - - 287 - M - B
Julian 918 W Belmont - - - 766 - M,V - A,B,C
Karlov 4048 W Armitage 1916-17 - - 893 L M - B,C,P
Kedzie Annex 3212 W Madison - - - 750 - M Demolished A,B,C
Kedzie Avenue 3202 W Madison - - - 1461 - M Demolished A,B,C
Kenmore Kenmore and Foster - - - - - M - -
Kenwood 1225 E 47th - - - 885 - M Demolished A,B,C
Keystone 3912 N Sheridan 1913 - - 791 E M Grocery store A,B,C
Kimbark 6240 S Kimbark 1913 - 1999 688 - M Demolished A,B,C
Kimbark 1308 E 75th - - - 299 - M - A,C
Knickerbocker (Devon) 6225 N Broadway 1915-16 - 1996 944 LT, E M Demolished A,B,C,P
Kosiuszko 1064 N Milwaukee - - - 266 - M - A
Kozy 40 S Clark - - - 275 - M Demolished A,B,C
Lake Shore 3175 N Broadway 1914 - - 514 - M Theater A,B,C,P
Lakeside 4730 N Sheridan 1915 9/4/15 - 979 LT, E, BK M Dance school A,B,C
Lane Court 322 W Center - - - 999 AB M,V - A,B,C
Langley 706 E 63rd - - - 885 - M - C
Larue's Dreamland 3520 S State - - - - - M - B
LaSalle 152 W Division 1914 - - 728 - M Demolished A,B,C
LaSalle (Opera House) 110 W Madison - - - 759 - M Demolished B,C
Lautenslager & Lautenslager 3433 W North - - - - - M - A
Lawn 3417 W 63rd 1912-13 - - 299 - M - A,B,C,P
Lawndale 3679 W Grand - - - 296 - M - B,C
Lawndale see New Americus B
Lawndale 4015 W Roosevelt 1926-27 - - 2500 - M,B Church B,C
Le Grand 5243 N Clark - - - - GB M - -
Lexington 715 S Crawford - - - 735 - M Demolished A,B,C
Lexington 1162 E 63rd 1912-13 - - 720 - M Demolished A,C,P
Liberty 3707 W Fullerton - - - 649 - M Banquet Hall A,C
Liberty 1180 N Milwaukee - - - 297 - M - A,B,C
Lincoln Hippodrome 3162 N Lincoln 1911 - - 1530 - M - A,B,C
Lincoln 1846 W Madison 1911 - - 440 - M Demolished A,C
Lincoln 3134 S State 1912-13 - - 299 - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Lincoln Belmont 1635 W Belmont 1911 1/12 - 1800 - V,M Condominiums B
Lincoln-Webster 2151 N Lincoln - - - - - M - A,B,C
Linden 743 W 63rd - - - 783 - M Demolished A,B,C
Lion 1714 W 18th - - - - - M - -
Little (Panorama) 717 W Sheridan 1913 - - 700 E M Demolished S1,S2
Logan Square 2542 N Milwaukee 1913 - - 1318 LT V,M Demolished A,B,C
Loomis 2858 W Archer - - - 285 - M - A,B,C
Lowy's (Cameo) 740 N Milwaukee 1914 1914
(1924)		 - 650 - M Demolished M1,M2,S1,S2
Lucille 653 N Cicero - - - 503 L,SM M - A,C
Luna 4743 W Belmont 1937 - 1986 - - M Demolished P
Lyceum Madison and Sacramento - - - - - M - -
Lyceum 3851 S Cottage Grove - - - 700 - M,V - A,B,C
Lyda 315 N Cicero - - - 905 - M - A,C
Lynn 1044 W 63rd 1912-13 - - 299 - M Church A,B,C,P
Lyric 3946 W 22nd - - - 320 - M - A,B,C
Lyric 720 W 47th 1910 - - 300 - M - A,P
Lyric 34 S Halsted - - - 209 - M - B
Lyric 1217 N Milwuakee - - - 288 - M - A,B,C
Lyric 320 S State - - - - - M - A
McVickers 25 W Madison 1922 9/26/22 - 1865 BK M Demolished A,B,C
Mabel 3956 N Elston - - - 655 - M Store B,C
Madison 125 W Madison - - - - - M - A
Madison Square 4730 W Madison 1917 11/7/17 - 1367 LT M Demolished A,C
Madlin 1910 W Madison 1916 - - 797 - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Madlin 4041 W Washington Blvd - - - - - M - B
Magnolia 2810 W Fullerton - - - 299 - M - A,B,C
Majestic 18 W Monroe - - - - O V,M Theater B
Manhattan 59th and Wentworth - - - - - M - -
Manor 5600 W North 1924 - - 1500 L M Demolished B,C
Maplewood 2811 W Diversey - - - 299 - M - A,C
Marbro 4124 W Madison 1926 5/28/27 - 4000 MB,P,BK M Demolished B,C
Marion 3446 S Halsted - - - 252 - M - A,B,C
Marlowe Hippodrome 6254 S Stewart 1892 - - 1050 - V,M Closed 1935 A,B,C
Marquette 6305 S Kedzie 1917 - - 948 - M Demolished B,C
Marshall Square 2871 W 22nd 1917 - - 1500 - M Concert hall A,B,C
Marshfield 1650 W Roosevelt - - - 290 MB M - A
Maryland 855 E 63rd 1917-18 - - 1700 BK M Demolished C
Mayfield 5910 W Chicago 1915 - - - - M - P
Metro 3308 W Lawrence 1915 - - - - M Retail stores B,C
Metropole 236 W 31st - - - 299 - M - A,C
Metropolitan 4644 South Parkway 1916 1/20/17 1997 1436 AB M Demolished A,B,C
Michigan 110 E Garfield 1916 12/27/16 1994 1400 LT M Demolished A,B,C
Mid-City 613 W Madison - - - 350 - M - B,C
Midway Hippodrome 6248 S Cottage Grove 1909 - - - - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Midwest 3538 S Archer 1925 11/19/25 - 1820 AB M,V Demolished B,C
Milda 3140 S Halsted 1912-14 - - 920 - M - A,B,C,P
Milford 3311 N Crawford 1916-17 2/24/17 1994 1175 L M Demolished A,B,C
Milo 1821 S Loomis 1925 12/3/25 - 1000 - M - B,C
Model 1348 S Halsted - - - 272 - M - A,B,C
Mohawk 539 W North - - - 299 - M - A,B,C
Monogram 3520 S Halsted - - - 432 - M - A,B,C
Monogram 3451 S State 1908-09 - - 383 - M Demolished B,P
Monroe 59 W Monroe - - - 1120 - M Demolished B,C
Monroe 55th and Kimbark - - - - - V,M - -
Mont Clare 7133 W Grand 1929 - 1996 1350 - M Demolished C
Montrose 4408 N Milwaukee - - - - - M - A
Music Box 3733 N Southport 1929 - - 772 - M Movie theater -
National 6219 S Halsted 1908 2/09 - 1142 - V,M Demolished A,B,C
National 608 S State - - - 272 - M Demolished A,B,C
New Americus 3437 W Ogden - - - 650 - M - A
New Apollo 1536 N Crawford 1914 - - 1136 - V,M Restaurant A,C,S1,S2
New Ashland 4836 S Ashland - - - - - M - A
New Clark 4535 N Clark - - - - - M - A
New Dearborn see Dearborn B
New Drake see Drake -
New Era 2408 N Western - - - 300 - M - A,C
New Illinois 3116 S Wentworth - - - 380 - M Demolished A,C
New Langley 706 E 63rd 1911 - - 870 - M Demolished B
New Palace see Palace B
New Paris 618 S State - - - - - M Demolished A,B
New Park 342 E 51st - - - 1000 - M - A
New Pershing see Pershing B
New Regent 6826 S Halsted 1916 - - 999 - M Closed 1951 A,B,C
New Strand see Strand C
New Virginia 807 W Madison - - - 750 - M - A
New Wonderland see Wonderland A
Newberry 854 N Clark - - - 709 - M Demolished A,B,C
Normal W 119th at Normal 1937 - - - - M Demolished -
Norshore 1749 W Howard 1926 6/17/26 - 3018 BK M Demolished B
North Center 4031 N Lincoln 1925 2/3/26 - 2721 - M - B,C
Nortown 6320 N Western 1931 4/4/31 - 2046 BK M Community center -
Nu-Sho 7251 S Vicennes - - - - - M - -
Notes:
1. Locations, years built and razed, and opening dates have been compiled from a variety of sources, including theater advertisements, city directories, and fire insurance maps.
2. Seating capacities have been compiled primarily from those listed in fire insurance maps.
3. Only known circuit affiliations and entertainment formats are included in the listings; it is probable that many of the theaters listed had additional circuit affiliations and mixed formats at one time or another.
4. In most cases, theaters that relied exclusively on burlesque, vaudeville, "legitimate" drama, or some mix of the three are not listed, although I have made some exceptions.
5. The present condition of the theater is listed only if known; those for which the present condition is not listed are likely demolished.
6. This database is under constant revision; new or more accurate information is added as I complete additional research on this and related subjects.

Codes:
1. Circuits: AB=Ascher Brothers, AH=Alfred Hamburger, BK=Balaban and Katz, C=Columbia (Eastern) Burlesque Wheel, CB=Cooney Brothers/National Theaters, E=Essaness, GB=Gumbiner Brothers, JLS=Jones Linick and Schaefer, L=Lynch, LT=Lubliner and Trinz, MB=Marks Brothers, O=Orpheum, P=Publix, P/BK=Publix/Balaban and Katz, R=RKO, S=Schoenstadt, SM=Simansky and Miller, WB=Warner Brothers.
2. Format: B=burlesque, L=legitimate drama, M=motion pictures, S=illustrated sing-a-longs, V=vaudeville.
3. Other: A=listed as "motion picture theater" in the 1923 edition of Polk's City Directory, B=listed as "motion picture theater" in the 1928-29 edition of Polk's City Directory, C=listed in The Film Daily 1929 Year Book; M1=location based on Motion Picture News articles from the period; M2=opening date based on Motion Picture News coverage of the event; P=construction dates based on city of Chicago building permit ledgers; S1=date built from Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps; S2=capacity from Sanborn Fire Insurance Company maps; T=date built derived from Cook County Assessor's Office property records.
4. Alternative Street Names: 12th=Roosevelt, 22nd=Cermak, Armitage=Center, Crawford=Pulaski, Evanston=Broadway, Grand Blvd=South Parkway=Martin Luther King Drive, Robey=Damen.

Last updated: 29 July 2003





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Page authored: 19 March 1997 -
Copyright 2003 by Scott A. Newman