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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
Oak 2004 N Western 1910 - - 1046 - V,M Demolished A,B,C
Oakland Square 3947 S Drexel 1916 3/4/16 1990 1425 AB,WB M Demolished A,B,C
Oakley 2320 W Chicago 1917 11/25/17 - 990 - M Art center A,B,C
Ogden 2762 W Ogden - - - - - M Demolished B,C
Olympia 4619 S Ashland - - - 582 - M - A,B,C
Ontario 13407 S Brandon - - - - - M - A
Orchard 659 W North - - - 448 - M - A,B,C
Oriental 2536 W North - - - - - M - -
Oriental 20 W Randolph 1926 5/8/26 - 3250 BK M Theater B,C
Orpheum 112 S State 1908 9/07 - 762 JLS,WB M,S - B,C
Orpheus 1611 W Roosevelt 1913 - - 876 MB M - A,B,C
Overland 1158 W 18th - - - 270 - M Demolished A,B,C,S2
Owl 4653 S State 1916 1/28/17 - 944 - M,V Demolished A,B,C
Palace 34 S Halsted - - - 209 - M - A
Palace 1826 S Halsted - - - 503 - M Retail store A,B,C
Palace 159 W Randolph 1926 10/4/26 - 2500 O,R V,M Theater C
Palais Royal 1708 W Madison - - - 432 - M - A,B,C
Palm 4247 W Irving Park 1912-13 - - - - M - P
Palmer 3224 W Armitage - - - - - M - -
Panorama 51st and Prairie 1913 2/1/13 - - - V,M - -
Panorama see Little A,B,C
Pantheon 4650 N Sheridan 1918 9/11/18 - 1582 LT,E M Demolished A,B,C
Paradise 231 N Pulaski 1926 9/14/28 1956 3500 BK M Demolished B,C
Paramount 2648 N Milwaukee 1915 - - 988 LT,E M Movie theater A,B,C
Paris 618 S State - - - 274 - M - C
Park 5962 W Lake 1913 6/28/13 - 586 SM,L M Demolished A,C
Park 6916 N Clark - - - 300 - M - S2
Park Manor 321 E 69th 1914 - - 220 - M Closed 1950 A,B,C
Parkside 1548-50 N Clark 1916 - - 932 GB M Movie theater A,C
Parkside 5835 W Belmont 1936 - - 1600 - M Demolished -
Parkway (Drury Lane) 2738 N Clark 1910 - - 752 - M,V - A,B,C
Parkway 11053 S Michigan - - - 774 - M - A,B,C
Pastime 66 W Madison - - - 403 - M,V - A,B,C
Pastime 750 W 79th - - - 290 - M - B,C
Patio 6008 W Irving Park 1926 1/29/27 - 1500 - M Closed 2001 B,C
Paulina 1335 N Paulina 1912-13 - - 834 GB M Demolished A,B,C,P,S2
Peerless 3955 S Grand Blvd 1917 - - 904 AB M - A,C
Peoples 1620 W 47th 1918 1919 2001 1850 S V,M Demolished A,B,C,P
Pershing (Davis) 4614 N Lincoln 1918 - - 1480 LT,E M Movie theater A,B,C
Pershing (New Pershing) 716 W Roosevelt - - - 633 - M - A,C
Pete's International 9223 S Commercial - - - - - M - A,B
Phoenix 3104 S State - - - - - M Demolished A,C
Piccadilly 1443 E Hyde Park 1926 1/24/27 - 2892 S M Demolished (lobby remains) B,C
Pickford 108 E 35th - - - 754 - M - A,B,C
Pilsen 3206 W 26th - - - 296 - M - A,B,C
Pine Grove Sheridan, east of Broadway - - - - AB M - -
Plaisance 466 N Parkside - - - 519 SM,L M - A,B,C
Plaisir Irving Park and Crawford - - - - - M - -
Playhouse 410 S Michigan - - - - - M Disused B
Plaza 308 W North 1909 - - 1195 JLS V,M - A,B,C
Portage Park 4050 N Milwaukee 1920 12/11/20 - 1970 AB M,V Movie Theater A,B,C
Prairie 5748 S Prairie 1915 - - 902 AH M - A,C
President 341 E Garfield 1912 - - - BY,AB M - A
Princess 319 S Clark - - - - - M Demolished B
Queen 2543 W North - - - 316 - M - A,B,C
Rainbow 645 W 120th 1916 - - 764 - M Demolished A,B,C,P
Ramova 3518 S Halsted 1928-29 8/21/29 - 1160 - M Disused P
Randolph 14 W Randolph 1918 12/23/18 - 845 JLS M Demolished A,B,C
Ravina see Jingles A,C
Ravoli 4380 N Elston 1922-23 - - - - M Community center B,P
Regal 4719 South Parkway 1927 2/4/28 1973 3000 BK M Demolished B,C
Regent 6746 N Sheridan - - - 732 - M Movie theater B,C
Revelry 342 E 47th - - - - - M Closed 3/31/24; remodeled into retail store A
Rex 2340 W Madison - - - 687 - V,M - A
Rex 6848 S Racine - - - 604 - M - A,B,C
Rhodes E 79th at Rhodes 1937 - - - - M - -
Rialto 386 S State - 1/22/17 - 1548 - B,M,V Demolished B,C
Ridge see Ellentee -
Riviera 4746 N Racine 1917 10/2/18 - 1945 O,BK M,V Concert hall A,B,C
Rivoli 4380 N Elston 1922 - - 1400 - M Community Center C
Robey 2007 W 22nd - - - 300 - M - A
Rockne 5821 W Division 1925 - - 1500 - M Church -
Rogers 2516 W Fullerton - - - 487 - M Demolished A,B,C
Roosevelt 110 N State 1921 4/23/21 - 1591 AB,BK M Demolished A,B,C
Rose 63 W Madison - - - 299 - M - A,B,C
Rose 2858 N Milwaukee 1914 - - 707 - M Restaurant A,B,C
Roseland State 11020 S Michigan - - - - - M - A
Roseland 11331 S Michigan - - - 966 - M - B,C
Rosette 2150 W 22nd - - - 299 - M - A,B
Rosewood 1823 W Montrose 1916 - - 999 AB M Retail B,C
Savoy 4346 W Madison 1912-13 - - 486 SM,L M Demolished A,B,C,D
Schell 5516 S Ashland - - - - - M - -
Schindler's 1005 W Huron - - - 1053 - M - A,B,C
Seeley 2042 W Roscoe - - - 300 - M - B,C
Senate 3128 W Madison 1920-21 2/12/21 1977 3127 LT,BK M Demolished A,B,C
Shakespeare 942 E 43rd 1914 - - 988 BY M - A,B,C
Sheerin's 663 N Clark - - - - - M - A
Sheridan 4040 N Sheridan 1927 2/12/27 - 2640 AB M Demolished B,C
Sherrin 663 N Clark - - - 299 - M - C
Shore
2507 E 75th - 12/29/27 - 1500 WB M Demolished B,C
Shubert 74 W Randolph - - - - - V,M - B
Sonotone 66 E Van Buren - - - - - M Demolished -
Southport 3709 N Southport - - - 300 - M Demolished A,S2
Southtown 610 W 63rd 1931 12/25/31 1991 3200 BK M Demolished -
Springfield 3857 W Roosevelt - - - 290 - M - A,B,C
Stadium 1803 S Blue Island - - - 277 - M - A,B,C
Standard 750 N Clark - - - 397 - M - A,B,C
Stanley 3010 E 79th - - - 297 - M Restaurant A,B,C
Star 68 W Madison 1914 7/25/14 - 1500 - M - A
Star 1455 N Milwaukee - - - 1485 - M - A,B,C
Star 1415 W Fullerton - - - 298 - M - C
Star and Garter 815 W Madison 1907 1/19/08 1973 1900 - B,V,M Demolished A,B,C
State 5814 W Madison 1925 - - 1900 LT,P M Demolished A,B
State see Roseland State B
State-Lake 190 N State 1917-19 3/17/19 - 3000 O,R,BK V,M Television studio A,B,C
States 3507 S State 1913 - - 708 - M Demolished B,C
Strand (New Strand) 2111 W Division 1915 - - 733 - M Demolished A,C
Strand 3031 N Lincoln 1914 - - 599 - M - A,B,C
Stratford 715 W 63rd 1919 9/4/20 - 2500 CB,WB M Demolished A,B,C
Sunnyside see Triangle -
Swanson 3861 S Cottage Grove 1908 11/18/08 - 600 - M Demolished -
Symphony 4937 W Chicago 1927-28 - - - - M Demolished P
Temple 3131 N Lincoln - - - - - M Closed 1922 -
Temple (Acme) 5241 N Clark 1910 - - 600 GB,BY M Retail stores B,C,P
Terminal 3308 W Lawrence 1915 - - 1500 AB M,V Retail stores A,B,C
Terminal 3315 W Lawrence 1925 1/7/26 - 1800 - M Demolished -
Thalia 1807 S Allport 1892 - - 900 - L,M Disused A,B,C
Three Penny 2422 N. Lincoln 1911 - - - - M Movie theater P
Tiffin 4045 W North 1912 - - 700 - M Demolished S1,S2
Tiffin 4045 W North 1922 10/30/22 - 2300 L M Demolished A,B,C,M2
Tivoli 6325 S Cottage Grove 1921 2/16/21 1963 3400 BK M Demolished A,B,C
Tower 1510 E 63rd 1925 4/11/25 - 3014 O,LT,BK V,M Demolished B,C
Triangle (Sunnyside, Sun) 7219 S Wentworth 1913 - - 530 - M Closed 1950 A,B,C
Trocadero 518 S State - - - - C B,M Demolished A
Tulane 6108 S Halsted 1912-13 - - 297 - M Demolished A,P
20th Century 4708 S Prairie 1913 - - 932 - M - B,C
Twentieth Century 3530 W Roosevelt 1912-13 - - 796 AH M - A,B,C
U.S. 546 S State - - - - - M - A,C
United Artists Randolph and Dearborn 1922 12/26/27 1989 1694 BK M Demolished B,C
Uno 365 E 26th - - - - - M - -
Uptown 4614 N Broadway 1925 8/18/25 - 4307 BK M Disused B,C
Vendome 3145 S State 1918 - 1949 1265 - M Demolished A,B,C
Venice 1009 S Halsted - - - - - M - -
Verdi 301 E Kensington - - - 348 - M - A,B,C
Verdi 2035 W 35th - - - - - M - -
Vernon 436 E 61st - - - 742 - M Demolished A,B,C
Victoria 511 S Crawford - - - - - M Demolished A
Victoria 10935 S Michigan - - - - - M - A
Victoria (Vic) 3145 N Sheffield 1912 - - - - M Movie theater A,B
Victoria 2811 W 22nd - - - 344 - M - A
Victory 91st and Cottage Grove - - - 2000 - M - C
Virginia 210 E 43rd - - - 286 - M - A,B,C
Vision 2650 W Division - - - 722 - M - C
Vista 824 E 47th - - - 975 - M - A,C
Vitagraph 3133 N Lincoln 1914 - - 998 LT M - A,B,C
Vogue 3810 N Broadway 1916 - - 1800 - M Demolished -
Wabash 1838 S Wabash - - - 1340 - M - A,B,C
Wallace 622 W 31st - - - 300 - M - A,B,C
Washington 3440 S State 1912-13 - - - - M Demolished P
Waverly 527 S Halsted 1912-13 - - 556 - M - A,B,C,P
Weneeda 5038 W Chicago - - - 292 - M - C
West End 121 N Cicero 1916 - - 1119 LT,E M - A,B,C
West Englewood (Ogden) 1619 W 63rd 1912 - - 2042 AB M,V Demolished A,B,C,P
Western 2311 W Lake - - - 298 - M - A,B,C
Western 2743 W 22nd - - - 750 - M - B,C
White Eagle 1618 W 18th - - - - - M - C
White Palace 1609 S Kedzie 1910 5/10 - 750 - V,M Demolished A,B,C
Wicker Park see Bell A,B
Wiley 2153 N Lincoln - - - - - M - -
Willard 340 E 51st - - - 1195 - M - B,C
Wilson (4 Star) 2418 W Madison 1917-18 - - 1300 LT M Demolished A,B,C,P
Windsor 1225 N Clark 1913 5/11/13 - 1256 - M - A,B,C
Windsor 431 N Laramie - - - 299 SM M - A,C
Windsor Park 2638 E 75th - - - - - M - A,C
Wonderland (New Wonderland) 734 W Madison 1906 - - 383 - V,M - B,C
Woodlawn 854 E 63rd 1917 4/26/18 - 1250 - M Demolished A,C
Woodlawn 6201 S Cottage Grove 1922-23 - - - - M - B,P
Woods 54 W Randolph 1917 - 1989 1158 R M Demolished C
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, BY=Brunhild and Youngs, 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.
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