Chicago Movie Theatres

Chicago Movie

Theatres

Includes the City of Chicago









12/19/2010

CHICAGO

COOK COUNTY 600 North Michigan 9 900 North Michigan 2

600 N Michigan Ave 900 N Michigan Ave

CHICAGO November 1996- First Friday in October 1988-2003

152 Theater * November 1996 opened by Cineplex Cineplex Odeon owned this “Jewelbox”

152 W Division Odeon theatre.

? 1945-? 1955 * 1998 became part of Loews Cineplex

700 seats * 2004 renovated

* 2005 a bar has been installed, became

part of AMC

20th Century

4078 Prairie Avenue

1913-? 1930



20th Century

3538 W Roosevelt

1913-? 1955 Aadvark

750 seats 1608 N Wells

* 1913 opened on the same block of ? 1968-? 1977

Balaban and Katz's first theatre, the 1917 150 seats

Central Park by Alfred Hamberger circuit. Shared building with Termite 1973-1976,

* Late 1950's closed adult movies were shown.

The Aardvark was a very small theatre

400 located at 1608 N. Wells, very close to

AKA: Village Art where the Pipers Alley theatre now stands.

6747 Sheridan My memories of the place are vague: a

1932-1996, July 2009- bare bones auditorium with wooden floors

795 seats and not many seats (150-200?) It reminded

* 1912 opened as Regent me of a small barn, yet comfortable

* 1932 renamed 400 enough. Before the feature started, an

* Late 1980's split into 4 screens 62nd & Western 10 announcement was made over the PA:

* 1996 renamed Village Art 2258 W 62nd St "The smoking of ANYTHING in this theatre

November 1997-2007 is illegal". This always got laughs, since the

* November 1997 opened by a partnership neighborhood (Old Town) was a magnet

of Cineplex Odeon and Inner City for young people- hippies, longhairs, and

Entertainment various radicals. The Aardvark played first

In later years it had been booked by run single features; off beat films most

Marcus theatres and is now booked by other theatres wouldn't touch. Adult

Kerasotes Theatres. This theatre has the movies were shown here.

same design of Chatham 14, Woodlawn,

Quartier Latin 17 in Montréal and the

Huntington Shore 8 on Long Island, NY

ABC Drive-In

45 Drive-In 2443 Union St

? 1955 ? 1955

May be in the suburbs No Tribune ads



Academy

16 S. Halsted Street

1915-? 1945

962 seats









Chicago Page 2

Acadia Adelphi Alamo

2739 W 55th st 7074 N Clark 3639 W Chicago

1930-1959 1917-2002 (a short while in 2004) August 18, 1926-1963

671 seats 900 seats 1,557 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service booked * 1917 opened by Ascher Brothers, the Owners:

this theatre in 1950 name means "adelphoi" is Greek for 1926 Balaban and Katz

"Brothers" 1935 Reinheimer, L.

Ace * 1930's remodeled 1940 others

AKA: National * Early 1980's closed 1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service

6219 S Halsted * Mid 1980's reopened as the North Shore 1955 Alger Theatres

1935-? 1964 Theatre for a short while and renamed

800 seats back to Adelphi and shown bollywood

* 1911 opened as National movies.

* Mid 1930's closed * 1982 renovated

* 1935 reopened as Ace * January 2002 closed

* Early 1960 closed * January 2006 demolished for condos.



Acme Admiral

5241 N Clark 3940 Lawrence

1910-? 1925 1925-? 1986

* 1910 opened as Acme by the Gumbiner 1,399 seats

Brothers * 1928 opened as a vaudeville house later

* Early 1930's renamed Temple to show movies

* Late 1940's closed * Owner in 1940: G. C. S. Circuit

* Early 1940 are taken over by Balaban and

Katz

Adams * Late 1950's closed

* 1969 reopened showing cartoons for 25

20 E Adams Alba

1921-? 1930 cents for a couple of months AKA: Capitol

* 1921 opened by Vista Amusement * 1971 reopened as an adult theatre 4816 N Kedzle

Enterprises * late 1980's restored as a "gentleman's 1934-1950

* 1930 switched to newsreel and short club" Opened as Capitol in 1915

features. Balaban and Katz owned this 968-seat

* 1930's closed theatre.



Adelphi Albany Park

AKA: Columbia, Clark AKA: Albany

11 N Clark 3317 W Montrose

1923-1931 1915-? 1930

* 1911 opened as Columbia

* 1923 renamed Adelphi Alcazar

* 1931 remodeled and renamed Clark 69 W Madison

* 1974 closed and demolished ? 1915-? 1935

300 seats

* Early teens opened as an early Loop

movie theatre.

* Late 1920's-early 1930's opened 24 hours

a day

* mid 1930's closed



Alex

AKA: Hamlin

3628 W Madison

1937-? 1970

990 seats









Chicago Page 3

Alma Apollo Armitage

5352 S Wentworth AKA: Earl AKA: Avenue



? 1930-? 1955 526 E 47th st 3553 W Armitage

300 seats 1909-1920 1916-1971

Owner in 1930: Rex Theatres * 1909 opened as a vaudeville hall searving Owners:

a solidly Irish and Jewish German 1935 Bland Brothers

neighborhood. 1940 others

Alpha * 1920 Renamed Earl and switched to 1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service

4717 N. Damen Avenue movies 1955 Alger Theatres

? 1912 * Early 1950's closed 1960 others



Alps Apollo Arrow

? 1945 74 W Randolph at Clard 1436 W Fullerton

1927-? 1950 1908-? 1950

Alvin 1,400 seats

1612 W Chicago * The New Chicago opened on the site in Art 4

1913-1970 1873 by James H. McVicker on the site of 1548 N Clark

540 seats the Kingsbury Hall. Renamed Grand Opera 2003-2005

Owners: House, Christy's Opera House and later the Village Theatres owned this theatre.

1930 Langdon, V. R. Music Hall

1935 others * 1893 renovated and renamed Olympic

1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service * 1907 badly damaged by a fire and rebuilt Ashland

1955 Alger Theatres * 1927 renamed Apollo 1611 W Madison

* 1934 joined Balaban and Katz 1914-? 1935

* 1950 closed Owner in 1920: Schoenstadt and Sons

Ambassador

1925-? 1940 * 1953 a Greyhound bus station built on

1,760 seats the site. Astor

Owner in 1940: Nomikos, Van 12 S Clark

1922-? 1955

300 seats

Ambassador Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

? 1920 Service

Balaban and Katz owned this theatre.

Atlantic

American 3948 W 26th st.

8 N Ashland 1917 -1968

August 23, 1915-? 1960 2,500 seats

1,226 seats Archer * 1917 opened by Schoenstadt and Sons

Owners: 2008 W 35th st. * 1967 twinned

1930 Laporte Theatres 1910-? 1945 * 1968 closed

1935 Essaness Theatres 914 seats * 1996 gutted for retail space

Owners 1920-1935: Schoenstadt and Sons

Americus (Booked by Coston Booking Circuit in

Atlas

? 1930 1930)

4711 S State

Coston Booking Circuit owned this theatre. 1914-? 1940

Argmore

Amo 1040 W Argyle

Atom

AKA: Vernon 1913-? 1951

436 E 61st st 4338 S Wentworth

676 seats

? 1935-1952 December 30, 1945-? 1950

Owner 1935-1951: Essaness Theatres

709 seats 500 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service booked Ark

this Afro-American theatre in 1950 AKA: Drexel

858 E 63rd St

Apollo ? 1945-? 1965

? 1930-? 1935 750 seats

Owner in 1930: Rex Theatres Owner in 1955: Alger Theatres









Chicago Page 4

Austin Avenue Bell

5619 W Madison AKA: Terrace 3064 Armitage

? 1935-1958 3108 Indiana ? 1940-1953

586 seats 1913-? 1940 425 seats

Owners: This Afro-American theatre had 1,000

1935 Stern, Charles seats. Bellwood

1940 others 1539 N Milwaukee

1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service Avers ? 1935

1955 Alger Theatres 3825 W 25th St 650 seats

? 1910-? 1930

Avaloe 299 seats

2811 Diversey

1927-1953 Avon

654 seats 3327 Fullerton

Owned by Allied Buying and Booking 1914-1952, 1957-1984

Service in 1950 795 seats

* 1914 opened

Avalon * 1940 owned by Essaness Theatres.

1645 E 79th St * 1960's-1970's shown greek movies

August 28, 1927-1970 * Early 1980's closed, it became a church in

2,398 seats later years.

Owners:

1930 Coston Booking Circuit Balmoral

1935 others 5400 Sheridan

1940 Warner Brother Theatre Circuit 1962-1966

1950 Essaness Theatres 450 seats

1955 Stanley Warner

Band Box

Madison Near LaSalle

1915-? 1920

300 seats



Banner

1611 N Damen

? 1930-? 1950

796 seats

Owner in 1930: Coston Booking Circuit



Barbee's Loop Theater

57 W Monroe

? 1920-1924



Beach

1504 E Hyde Park

Avenue 1913-1921

AKA: Ben-Hur, Cinema Italia 1,000 seats

306 S Cicero

? 1915-? 1945 Bell

595 seats

1539 N Milwaukee

* 1910's opened renamed Ben-Hur for a

1912-? 1930

short time.

650 seats

* Mid-late 1920's closed

Owners:

* Mid 1930's reopened

1920 Gumbiner Brothers

* Mid 1940's closed

1925 others

* Early 1950 reopened as Cinema Italia.

1930 Coston Booking Circuit









Chicago Page 5

Belmont Belpark

1635 Belmont 3231 N Cicero

September 13, 1926-1958 March 11, 1927-1957

3,265 seats Balaban and Katz owned this 2,004-seat

* September 13, 1926: opened by Lubliner theatre, which was the largest in Chicago

& Trinz without a balcony.

* August 1, 1927: joined the Orpheum

Circuit, which became RKO

* 1930 joined Balaban and Katz

* 1955 Balaban and Katz sell it

* 1958 closed

* Mid 1960s' became a multi-level bowling

alley

* Mid 1980's the bowling alley closed

* 1996 demolished except the facade for

retail and condos.









Chicago Page 6

Ben-Hur Bijou Dream Biograph

AKA: Cinema Italia, Avenue 178 S State 2432 Lincoln

306 S Cicero 1905-1921 1914-2004

? 1915 Jones, Linick & Schaefer owned this 500- 996 seats

seat theatre. * 1914 opened

Bertha * 1934 John Dillinger was shot and killed by the

4717 Lincoln police in a shootout

Biltmore * 1960 closed

1913-? 1964 2046 W Division * 1968 reopened

623 seats January 15, 1921-? 1955 * 1970's this theatre was a hugely popular art

Owners: Balaban and Katz owned this 1,749-seat house.

1920 Gumbiner Brothers theatre. * 1983 The balcony was split into 2 more

1925 others cinemas named Roxy and Ritz and John

1935 Lasker, Jacob & Sons Dillinger's seat is in a different color.

1940 others * Late 1980's bought out by Cineplex Odeon and

1950 Essaness Theatres redone like all other Cineplex Odeon theatres.

* 1998 sold to Meridian

1955 others

* 2001 closed

1961 Nomikos, Van * 2002 Village Theatres reopens it

* September 2004 closed and bought by the

Beverly Victory Gardens Theatre Company, which

1543 W 95th St reopened it October 18, 2006

1935-1976

1,250 seats

Owners:

1935 Warner Brothers

1955 others

1969 Standard Theatres, Inc









Bishop

1815 W Ogden

? 1915-? 1930

282 seats

Bijou

1349 N Wells

1968-

Bismarck

AKA: RKO Palace

* 1968 opened showing avant 159 W Randolph

garde/underground movies from 16mm 1966-1969

prints Now a performing arts center called

* 1969 gay porn movies screen Cadillac Palace Theatre.

Steven Toushin owns this theatre, which is

billed as "The Oldest Theatre in the US

showing the very finest in Gay Films since

1969". It is open 24 hours a day









Chicago Page 7

Blaine Bricktown Square 6 Bryn Mawr

3743 Southport 6420 W. Fullerton Avenue 1125 Bryn Mawr

1912-1920 1988-2000 1910-1986

350 seats 2,400 seats 790 seats

* 1912 opened as a nickelodeon * 1989 opened by Cineplex Odeon Owners:

* 1920 stopped showing movies * 1993 theatre started to be run down 1935 Saperstein, A.

* 1996 reopened as a 300-seat legitimate * 1998 sold to the Meridian chain 1940 others

house called Mercury * 2000 closed to became a gym 1950 Balaban,H & E

1980 others

Bridgeport

2839 Archer

1910-? 1939



Brighton Park

4223 S Archer

1921-1991

1,200 seats

Owner 1921-1955: Schoenstadt and Sons





Block 37 BUILDING

108 N. State

2009-

800 seats

Muvico is building this high-end cinema

with 7 cinemas. But it was cancelled in

2009 when the Kerasotes ShowPlace Icon

opening a few blocks south.



Boston

Madison at Clark

1911-1925

Broadway Cinema 1

750 seats 3175 North Broadway

? 1989-2000 Buckingham

? Cineplex Odeon cinema 3319 N Clark

1913-? 1985

Broadway Strand 1,050 seats

1641 W Roosevelt Owners:

November 10, 1917-1959 1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1,505 seats 1935 Essaness Theatres

* 1917 opened by Marks and Goodman 1955 others

* Early 1920's Marks and Goodman sells it

* Early 1930's Essaness Theatres buys it

started to cater to Afro-American

Audiences

* 1940's Balaban and Katz buys it

Boulevard * 1959 closed

* 2000 demolished

1606 W Garfield

1916-1955 Bugg

Schoenstadt and Sons owned this 998- 3940 N Damen

seat theatre. 1915-1958

998 seats

Booked by Afro-American in 1950

Bowen

3021 E 92nd St

1913-? 1915

299 seats









Chicago Page 8

Burnham Plaza 5 Calo Capitol

826 S Wabash Ave 5404 N Clark 7941 S Halsted

1988-2005 1915-1958 January 19, 1925-? 1970

* 1915 opened as a YMCA 880 seats 2,456 seats

* 1988 converted into a mixed residential * 1915 opened Ascher Brothers * 1925 opened

and retail use included a Cineplex Odeon 5- * Late 1920's taken over by Kidland * 1928 a copy of the theatre opened in

plex cinema Amusement Co. Sydney, Australia (restored)

* Nov 17,1996 Ebony Brown, 17, was shot * Early 1930's taken over by Bland Brothers * 1930 taken over by Coston Booking

dead at this theatre. * Late 1940's booked by Afro-American Circuit

* 1998 sold to Meridian Theatres * 1958 stopped showing movies * Early 1930's taken over by Warner

* 2001 sold to Village Theatres * Early 1990's reopened as a legitmate Brothers

* 2005 closed theater * Early 1950's part of Stanley Warner,

* 2006 renovations which sold it in the late 1960's

* 1970 closed









Burnside

9304 Cottage Grove Cameo

? 1935-? 1950 740 N Milwaukee

290 seats 1914-? 1945

650 seats

Owner in 1935: Rose Booking Circuit

Butler

AKA Norwal

518 W 26th st Calumet

? 1913-? 1935 9206 S Chicago

299 seats ? 1905-? 1930

905 seats

Byrd

AKA: Madison Square

Capitol

4730 W Madison AKA: Alba

1927-1967 4816 N Kedzle

1,390 seats 1915-? 1930

Owners:

1935 Essaness Theatres

1955 others



California

3434 W 26th st

? 1909-? 1910

683 seats



California

1002 N California

? 1909-1950

Owners:

1935 Saperstein, A.

1940 others

1950 Afro-American









Chicago Page 9

Capri Castle Central Park

AKA: Central, Punch and Judy, Sonotone, Studio 6 S State 3535 W Roosevelt

66 E Van Buren 1916-? 1945 October 10, 1917-1971

1958-1972 300 seats 1,758 seats

* 1893 opened as Steinway hall for * 1916 opened * October 10, 1917 opened as the first

concerts * 1929 wired for sound theatre in the Balaban and Katz circuit

* 1910 renamed Central theatre * 1932 became the first newsreel theatre in * 1970 sold to MDJ Theatres

* 1930 closed and reopened as Punch and Chicago with new show every 30 minutes, * 1971 became the Church of God in Christ

Judy admission 15 cents Claims to be the first Air-Conditioned

* 1934 renamed Sonotone * Late 1940's closed theatre.

* 1940 renamed Studio

* 1958 renamed Capri to show adult

movies Center

* 1972 closed 4037 Lincoln

1929-? 1955

2,492 seats









Carnegie

026 N Rush

1949-1986

612 seats

* 1949 opened

* Early 1950's owned by Telenews

Theatres, which sells it by 1961

* 1965 First Chicago Film Festival held here

* 1970's adult movies

* Owner in 1975: Brotman and Sherman

Theatres

* 1981 bought out by Plitt Theatres

* 1986 closed



Casimir

4950 Milwaukee

? 1935

491 seats

Century

Casino 1421 W Madison

3508 S Halsted 1933-1973

? 1890-? 1945 750 seats

275 seats Owners:

* Early 1890's opened 1935 Rose Booking Circuit

* 1920's switched to movies 1940 others

* Mid 1940's closed 1950 Afro-American

1961 others



Century

2820 N Clark

1930-1973

2,967 seats

Balaban and Katz owned this theatre.









Chicago Page 10

Century Centre 7 Chateau Chelex

2828 N Clark St AKA: Vogue AKA: Surf, Sandbag, Playboy



2000- 3810 N. Broadway 1204 N Dearborn

Landmark Theatres owns this stadium- May 19, 1917-1930 1976-1977

seating art cinema. * 1915 opened as Chateau * May 7, 1942 opened as Surf

* 1926 Asher Brother's lease runs out * September 29, 1964 renamed Playboy

* 1930 Essaness takes it over and renames * October 8, 1976 renamed Chelex

it Vogue * June 3, 1977 renamed Sandburg

* 1958 burned * 1982 closed

Chatham

7536 Cottage Grove Chelten

1925-? 1945 7945 S Exchange

1,100 seats ? 1928-? 1978

Owners: 1,250 seats

1925 National Theatres (Cooney Bros.)

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1935 others Chestnut Station

830 N Clark St

December 12, 1983-1999

* December 9, 1983 opened with 4 screens

by Essaness Theatres

* 1985 expanded to 7 screens

* 1986 taken over by Cineplex Odeon

* Early 1990's a young woman was shot

and killed in a gang related shooting.

* 1998 taken over by Loews Cineplex

* 1999 closed









Charm

4303 S Halsted

Chatham 14

210 W 87th

? 1910-? 1950

November 1997-

280 seats

Inner City Entertainment owns this

Owner in 1930: Coston Booking Circuit

cinema; it was booked by Cineplex Odeon,

Loews Cineplex, Marcus Theatres









Chicago Page 11

Chicago

175 N State

1921-1984

3,869 seats

WIKIPEDIA:

The Chicago Theatre is a famous theater

landmark in the city of Chicago, Illinois.

The theater is host to stage plays, magic

shows, comedy performances, speeches,

and musical concerts.

Designed in the classical revival-

French baroque style by architects

Cornelius W. Rapp and George L. Rapp, the

building was built in 1921, at a cost of $4

million dollars, at 175 North State Street.

Balaban and Katz theater chain

owners Barney and Abe Balaban and Sam

and Morris Katz wanted a new "flagship",

state-of-the-art theater for Chicago, and

when it opened on October 26, 1921, the

had it. John Balaban ran the entire B and K

enterprise from his offices above the

theatre.

It was designated as a historic

Chicago landmark on January 28, 1983.

And reopened as a concert hall in 1985

Owners:

1921 Balaban and Katz

1968 ABC Great States

1974 Plitt









Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington

2010-









Chicago Page 12

Chicago Drive-In Cine Cinema

? 1945 2516 Devon 151 E Chicago

No Tribuine ads! But listed in the Film Daily September 9, 1937-1953 December 12, 1930-September 1981

Yearbooks. Balaban and Katz owned this 970-seat 300 seats

theatre. * Early 1930's opened

Chicago Film Makers * 1978 renovented for the world premiere

5243 N. Clark of Robert Altman's The Wedding.

? 1995- * 1979 Kramer Vs. Kramer breaks house

records here

* September 1981 closed









Chopin

1541 W Division

1918-? 1950

613 seats

* 1918 opened

* Early 1950's stopped showing movies

* Late 1970's became a disco

* 1990 slated for demolition but at the last

minuite it was rescued. Its now a

playhouse









Cinema Annex

3210 W Madison

1948-1959



Cinema Borealis

1550 North Milwaukee

? 1999-2000



Cinema Borealis

? 1989

Outdoor cinema that moved from park to

park in 1989.









Chicago Page 13

Cinema Italia City Co-Ed

AKA: Avenue, Ben-Hur AKA: Strand 1350 Morse

306 S Cicero 3031 N Lincoln 1938-1951

? 1950 1937-? 1964 600 seats

580 seats 550 seats

* 1914 opened as Strand

* Late 1930's renamed City Colonial

Cinestage 24 W Randolph

190 N Dearborn * Mid 1960's closed

1905-1925

1957-1985 1,724 seats

* 1922 opened as Selwin City North 14 * 1903 opened as Iroquois

* 1957 Mike Todd buys it and renames it 2600 N Western Ave * December 30, 1903 a fire on the stage

Cinestage December 1999- spread into the auditorium killing 600, the

* 1970 A smaller screen installed in front of 4,000 seats worst disaster in the history of Chicago.

the Todd-AO screen for adult movies as it * December 1999 opened by General * 1904 reopened as Hyde and Behman

is taken over by Great States-Plitt Cinemas Music Hall

* 1985 closed * 2002 sold to AMC * 1905 renamed Colonial

* 2006 Kerasotes buys this theatre and * 1925 demolished for the Oriental theatre.

Websters (cancelling the Wilson Yards

project).

* 2010 Sold to Regal Cinemas as ordered.









Colony

3208 W 59th st

1926-? 1990

Claremont 1,500 seats

3228 N Clark * 1926 opened

? 1935-? 1945 * 1953 renovated

624 seats * Early 1990's closed

Owner in 1930: Coston Booking Circuit

Clark

AKA: Adelphi, Columbia

11 N Clark

1931-1974

920 seats

* 1911 opened as Columbia

* 1923 renamed Adelphi

* 1931 remodeled and renamed Clark

* 1974 closed and demolished

Circle

3211 W Roosevelt Clearing

1909-? 1950 AKA: Midway

707 seats 5722 W 63rd st

Owner in 1920: Balaban and Katz ? 1910-? 1930

Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

Service Clifford

? 1930

Coston Booking Circuit owned this theatre.







Chicago Page 14

Columbia Congress

AKA: Clark, Adelphi AKA: Teatro Azteca

11 N Clark 2135 Milwaukee

1911-1923 1926-1972

* 1911 opened as Columbia 2,890 seats

* 1923 renamed Adelphi http://www.congresschicago.com/

* 1931 remodeled and renamed Clark * September 5, 1926 opened by Balaban

* 1974 closed and demolished and Katz

* 1968 became part of ABC Great State

Columbus Theatres

6238 S Ashland * 1972 closed

1915-? 1925 * About 1978 reopened as Teatro Azteca

Ascher Brothers owned this 994-seat * Early 1990's closed

theatre. * 2002 reopened as a concert hall





Commercial

9150 S Commercial

1919-1966

1,460 seats

Owners:

1919 Ascher Brothers

1935 Balaban,H & E









Convent

2631 Clark

1932-1958

Balaban and Katz owned this 1,972 seat

theatre.



Cornell Square

? 1923 W 51th st

1913-? 1950

300 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned

this theatre in 1950



Cort

1909-? 1950

Afro-American theatre.



Cortland

3217 W Armitage

1911-1912

Commodore

3105 W Irving Park

1921-1978

Cosmo

966 seats 7938 S Halsted

Owner in 1930: Coston Booking Circuit 1935-1954

Owner in 1955 Allied Buying and Booking 1,181 seats

Service * 1913 opened as Cosmopolitan by Ascher

Brothers

* Late 1910's switched to movies

Community Center High School * 1930 closed

? 1940-? 1945 * 1935 renovated and renamed Cosmo by

Warner Brothers

* 1954 closed









Chicago Page 15

Cosmopolitan Crown Dante

1913-1935 1605 W Division 815 W Taylor

1909-1959 ? 1915-? 1945

Covent Garden 1,299 seats 300 seats

2653 N Clark Owners:

1916-? 1930 1920 Ascher Brothers Davis

2,018 seats 1930 Illionis and Indiana Theatres 4614 Lincoln CTA Western

Owners: 1935 Essaness Theatres 1932-

1916 Lubliner & Trinz 1,371 seats

1935 Balaban and Katz * 1918 opened as Pershing

* 1930's shown German movies

Crane * Early 1950's Essaness Theatres sells it

4226 S Archer * 1980's split into 4 screens of 1,349 seats.

1916-1948

700 seats

* 1916 opened

* 1920-1948 owned by the Schoenstadt

circuit



Crawford

19 S Crawford ?

1914-1960

1,299 seats

Crown

4049 W 26th st

Owners:

? 1930-? 1950

1914 Lubliner & Trinz

1,100 seats

1935 Essaness Theatres

Owners:

1930 Balaban and Katz

Crescent 1935 Schoenstadt and Sons

Milwaukee

? 1930-? 1935

792 seats

Crown-Hipp

? 1935 Dearborn

40 W Division

Crest 1913-1942

2424 Lincoln

Crystal

2701 W North Av. 741 seats

1912-? 1955 Owners:

November 08, 1917-1964

500 seats 1925 Lubliner & Trinz

Owned until 1961 by Balaban and Katz

Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking 1930 Balabian and Katz

1,860 seats

Service 1935 Balabian, H & E

1940 Jones, Linick & Schaefer

Criterion

1222 N Sedgwick Dearborn Twin

? 1930-? 1945 1985-? 1986

1,050 seats Cinestage and Michael Todd Theatres

marketed together.



Delphi

3115 S Indiana

? 1925-? 1945

300 seats

* 1912 opened as Elba

* 1920's renamed Delphi and started to

Crystal Afro-American audiences

South Ashland * 1940's closed

? 1930-? 1945



Dale

2860 Milwaukee

1936-1951





Chicago Page 16

DeLuxe Double Drive-In E.A.R.

1141 Wilson CTA Wilson 2800 W Columbus Ave 6839 S Wentworth

1913-1958 1950-? 1995 1915-1952

999 seats * 1950 opened with 2 screens The initials of the name E.A.R. stood for

* 1913 opened by the Gumbiner Brothers, * Early 1980's 3rd screens the owner/builder Earl A. Reisden

which sold it in the early 1920's * Late 1980's taken over by Loew's 720 seats

* 1958 closed * Late 1990's closed by Loew's Owners:

* 1972 demolished * 2000 demolished 1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1935 Balabian, H & E

Devon

AKA: Knickerbocker Eagle

6225 N Broadway CTA Granville 3324 S Morgan

1933-? 1985 ? 1915-? 1950

Essaness Theatres owned this theatre until 300 seats

the early 1950's Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

Service

Diversey

AKA: Century

1421 W Madison Earl

July 30, 1925-1933 526 E 47th st

Douglas ? 1920-? 1950

3236 W Cermak

1914-? 1950

719 seats

East

2768 N Lincoln

Owner 1930-1950: Goodman and Harrision

? 1945-? 1955

470 seats

Downtown

AKA: Loop End, Rialto

? 1945



Drake

3548 W Montrose

1925-1951

1,477 seats

Owners: East Side

1940 Jones, Linick & Schaefer 10555 Ewing

1950 Balabian and Katz ? 1922-? 1950

996 seats

Drexel

AKA: Ark Easterly

858 E. 63rd Street 2768 N Lincoln

? 1925-? 1940 ? 1930-? 1935

672 seats 550 seats

* 1912 opened

* Early 1920's taken over by Fecher and

Edwards

Newman

2419 S Wentworth

* Booked by Coston Booking Circuit in

? 1913-? 1935

1930

300 seats

* 1940's renamed Ark

* Late 1950's-early 1964 was the Crown

Propeller Lounge, then back to cinema

* 1965 closed









Chicago Page 17

Eitel's Palace Ellis Empire

? 1955-? 1955 910 e 43rd st 673 W Madison

Cinerama opened here. See Palace for ? 1910-1914 ? 1935-? 1950

more details 855 seats

Elmo

2404 W Van Buren CTA Western Empress

1913-? 1950 6628 S Halsted

780 seats 1913-1972

1,000 seats

Elston Owners:

AKA: Fox 1935 Rex Theatres

3167 N Elston 1940 Nomikos, Van

? 1913-1934 1969 Rex Theatres

300 seats

Englewood

Embassy 726 W 63rd st CTA Halstead

3956 Fullerton 1913-1972

September 2, 1926-1954 1,290 seats

1,451 seats * Late 1920's Radio-Keith-Orpheum takes

* September 2, 1926 opened by Essaness this theatre over.

Theatres * Early 1930's Rose Booking Circuit takes it

* 1954 stopped showing movies over

* April-September 27, 1981 Embassy * Late 1930's Illinois and Indiana Theatres

Ballroom take it over

* 1982-1984 reopened as a rock club * Late-1940's-Late 1950's Allied Buying and

* 1984 closed Booking Service takes it over

* Mid 1990's demolished * 1970 Adult movies are shown

1972 closed



Erianger

Elba 127 N Circle

3115 S Indiana ? 1930-? 1940

1912-? 1920 1,500 seats

* 1912 opened as Elba

* 1920's renamed Delphi

* 1940's closed

Erie

641 N Clark

? 1930

Ellentee

AKA: Ridge

1154 W Devon

March 1st, 1919-? 1930

Lubliner & Trinz owned this theatre.









Emmett

AKA: Atom

4338 S Wentworth

? 1930-1945

535 seats









Chicago Page 18

Esquire

58 E Oak

Feburay 16, 1938-September 14, 2006

1,400 seats

* Feburary 16, 1938 opened by H & E

Balaban

* 1950's started to sell popcorn

* to Plitt Theatres 1976

* 1977 Star Wars opens here

* 1989 gutted and rebuilt with 6 screens by

M & R (bought out by Loew's) with 1,390

seats.









Essanay

? 1930



Essaness Drive-In

? 1950

(Not listed in Tribune)



Essex

717 Sheridan

1939-1962

625 seats

* 1913 opened as Panorama

* 1920's renamed Little

* 1939 renamed Essex

* 1962 closed



Facets Multimedia

1517 W. Fullerton

1975-









Chicago Page 19

Famous Film Center at the Art Institute Ford City

3644 W Chicago CTA Madison and Wabash 7601 S Cicero Ave

? 1920-? 1950 ? 1998-2001 May 27,1966-

600 seats 4,500 seats

Owners: Fine Arts * May 27, 1966 opened as Ford City I & II at

1930 Kidland Amusement Co. 410 S Michigan South Cicero and 76th, making this the top

1935 Reinheimer, L. 1982-2000 grossing theatre with General Cinemas.

1940 others * 1885 the Studebaker building opened. * 1973 3rd screen added to become the

1950 Allied Buying and Booking service * 1917 the Studebaker theatre opened in Ford City I,II & III

the build * July 17, 1981 Expanded to 6 screens as

* 1930's theatre renamed World Playhouse the Ford City East at 76th and South

* 1964 adult movies Pulaski.

* 1973 closed * 1983 Ford City expanded to 5 screens

* 1982 reopened as Fine Arts 2 making it a total of 8 screens

* 1984 4 screens * August 1, 1990 a new 14-screen building

* Late 1980's taken over by Loew's opened, other screens closed.

* 1998 Loews Cineplex * 2002 sold to AMC

* 2000 closed





Fashion

557 S State CTA Harrison

? 1911-? 1950

240 seats



Festival

AKA: Mode

3912 N Sheridan

1970-1983

* 1913 opened as Keystone

* 1935 renamed Mode

* 1970 renamed Festival and shown adult

Five Cent

movies

172 S State

* 1983 renamed Teatro Puerto Rico

? 1907-? 1920

* Late 1980's closed

350 seats



Follies

450 S State

Mid 1940's-1949, 1970-1978

last ads as regular cinema in 1949, adult

cinema 1970-1978



Folly

526 S State

? 1910-? 1920

270 seats









Chicago Page 20

Forest Park Garfield Gateway

? 1920-? 1935 2844 W Madison 5216 Lawrence

Owners: 1909-? 1950 1930-1985

1920 Ashcer Brothers 625 seats 2,092 seats

1930 Simansky and Miller Owner in 1930: Kidland Amusement Co. Owners:

Owner in 1950: Lindau, Charles Theatres 1930 Balabian and Katz

Four Star 1968 ABC Great States

2418 W Madison Garrick 1974 Plitt Theatres

1937-? 1955 AKA: Schiller



1,168 seats 64 W Randolph

Opened as Wilson in 1918 1892-1960

This Afro-American theatre was booked by 980 seats

Allied Buying and Booking service in 1950 Joined Balabian and Katz in the 1930's





Fox

3167 N Elston

1934-1947

700 seats

Owner in 1940: G. C. S. Circuit



Franklin

328 E 31st St

? 1909-? 1945

730 seats



Frolic

951 E 55th St

? 1920-1961

876 seats

Owners:

1920 Ashcher Brothers

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1935 Warner Brothers

1955 Stanley Warner



Gaelic

2425 W 47th st

1914-1950

290 seats

Allied Buying and Booking service booked

it in 1950.



Gage Park

2620 W 51th st

? 1935-? 1950

298 seats



Gale

4921 S Ashland

? 1950

275 seats



Garden

1221 Taylor

? 1930-? 1950

278 seats









Chicago Page 21

Gayety Glen

9205 S Commercial 2854 W Armitage

? 1935-1982 1913-? 1915

823 seats 299 seats

* 1907 opened as Hippodrome

* 1920's renamed Gayety Globe

* Early 1930's taken over by Rose Booking Clark and North

Circuit 1962-1966

* Late 1930's taken over by Illinois and 800 seats

Indiana Theatres

* Late 1960's started to show Spanish

movies Globe

* 1982 burned 1145 S Blue Island

? 1930-? 1950

Balabian, H & E owned this Afro-American

theatre in 1950



Gold

3411 W Roosevelt

1914-? 1955

750 seats

Owner 1950-1955: Allied Buying and

Booking service



Gold Coast

AKA: Parkside, Village, Art

1548 N Clark

Gem 1934-1962

450 S State CTA Library-State/Van Buren 900 seats

? 1930-? 1950 Owner 1950-1955: Allied Buying and

480 seats Booking service

* Late 1910's opened as Parkside

Gene * 1934 renamed Gold Coast

* 1962 closed

? 1940

* 1967 reopened as Village

* 1971-1979 Male adult movies are shown

Gene Siskel Film Center * Early 1990's 4 screens

164 N State * 2003 renamed Art

2001- * Late 2005 closed



Granada

6427 Sheridan

September 18, 1926-1979

3,443 seats

* 1926 opened by Balabian and Katz

showing movies and vaudeville

* 1940's Movies only policy. Grand

* 1968 became a part of ABC Great State

3433 W North

Theatres

1935-1959

* 1974 became a part of Plitt Theatres

565 seats

* 1976 Plitt Theatres sold it

Owners:

* 1979 stopped showing movies

German Kino * 1980's used for concerts

1950-1955: Allied Buying and Booking

659 W North service

* 1990 demolished

? 1935-1948

299 seats

German Language films were shown here.









Chicago Page 22

Grand Guild Harding

3110 S State 717 W Sheridan Division ST.

? 1908-? 1955 1962-1964 ? 1930

808 seats

Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking Halfield

service 5451 S Halsted

1914-1956

Grand 952 seats

1525 S Pulaski formerly S Crawford Owners:

? 1935-? 1955 1925 H. Schoenstadt and Sons

300 seats 1930 Schoenstadt and Sons (Booked by

Owner in 1950: Banowitz Benjamin Coston Booking Circuit in 1930)



Grand Playhouse Halsted

3433 W North ? 1930

1965-1974

Harding

Adult movies 1972-1974 2714 Milwaukee

Halsted 1925-1960

320 S Halsted 2,993 seats

Grandale 1913-? 1935 Balabian and Katz owned this theatre.

3167 Grand 725 seats

? 1935 Owner in 1930: Schoenstadt and Sons

296 seats (Booked by Coston Booking Circuit in

1930)

Grayland

3940 N Cicero Halsted Street

? 1909-? 1930 6108 S. Halsted St.

299 seats 1932-? 1935

550 seats

Grove

7620 S Cottage Grove Hamilton Harmony

May 12, 1926-? 1961 2150 E 71st st 411 e 43rd st

1,847 seats 1916-1976 1910-? 1945

Owners: 993 seats 593 seats

1926 Lubiner and Trinz Owners:

1930 Coston Booking Circuit 1920 Gumbiner Brothers Harmony

1935 Warner Brothers 1925 National Theatres (Cooney Bros.) 2639 W Division

1955 Stanley Warner 1930 Coston Booking Circuit ? 1935-? 1950

1935 Warner Brothers 300 seats

1955 others Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

1969 Standard Theatres, Inc Service



Hamlin Harper

AKA: Alex 5236 S Harper

3826 W Madison 1914-1957

1910-? 1935 Schoenstadt and Sons (Booked by Coston

1,200 seats Booking Circuit in 1930) owned this 1,108-

seat theatre.



Harrision

503 S Kedzie

Grove (Fox River Grove) 1913-? 1950

? 1940-? 1945 568 seats

Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

Groveland Service

? 1935

535 seats









Chicago Page 23

Harvard Highway

6312 Harvard CTA 63rd St AKA: Hi-Way



1914-1951 6329 S Western

688 seats ? 1924-? 1984

Owners: 900 seats

1925 Fecher and Newman * 1924 opened by Balabian and Katz

1930 Coston Booking Circuit * Late 1920's taken over by Stern, Joseph

1935 others until the early 1930's

* Early 1960's the Chicago Savings and

Loan Association had free shows for

Hawthorne children every other Saturday mornings.

? 1940 the tickets were at the S & L supermarket.

* Mid 1960's the mural were painted over

Haymarket with an ghastly yellow paint

724 W Madison * 1976 started to show adult movies

1887-1949 * 1984 closed

926 seats

* 1887 opened with 2,475 seats, had 3 Hillside

balconies. 1515 W 69th st

* 1916-1932 burlesque theatre. ? 1930-? 1950

* 1916 3rd balcony closed 298 seats

* 1932 started to show movies Owner in 1930: Rex Theatres

* 1949 closed

* Spring 1950 demolished (I-90) now

stands on the site. Hippodrome

AKA: Gayety

9205 S Commercial

Heart 1907-? 1920

? 1994-? 1995 * 1907 opened as Hippodrome

* 1920's renamed Gayety

Hegewisch * Late 1960's started to show Spanish

13320 S Baltimore movies

? 1930-? 1950 * 1982 burned

258 seats

Holden

AKA: Bridgeport

2839 Archer

? 1940-? 1950

250 seats



Holiday

? 1955



Holly

1500 Fullerton

Highland ? 1945-? 1955

1759 S Ashland CTA 18th St. 800 seats

May 15, 1926-? 1964 Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

2,043 seats Service

Owners:

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1935 Warner Brothers Hollywood

1955 Stanley Warner 1500 Fullerton

1926-? 1940

1,000 seats









Chicago Page 24

Home Howard Hub

AKA: Radio 1621 Howard CTA Howard 1736 W Chicago

5035 S Halsted September 1st, 1917-1975 1913-1990

1914-1930 1,613 seats 750 seats

315 seats. * 1917 opened Closed 1971-late 1980's

* 1914 opened as home * Early 1920 are taken over by Balabian and Owner in 1930: Langdon, V. R.

* 1930 closed Katz Owner in 1950-1955: Allied Buying and

* 1936 reopened as Radio showing movies * 1974 taken over by Plitt Theatres Booking Service

as old as 2 years. * 1975 closed

* 1950 closed * 1999 demolished



Home

3749 W 26th st

? 1940-? 1950

300 seats



Home

4815 W Armitage

? 1913-? 1939



Homen Hyde Park

AKA: Little Village

5310 S Lake Park

3346 W 26th st

1933-2002

1934-? 1950

700 seats

300 seats

* 1933 opened

* 1970 2 screens

Homer * 1973 back to 1 screen

? 1955 * 1985 3 screens as it is taken over by M &

R

Homewood * 1988 4 screens as it is taken over by

? 1940 Loew's

Jones, Linick & Schaefer owned this * Early 1990's part of Sony Theatres

theatre. * 1988 LCE sells it to Meridian Theatres

* 2001 sold to Inner City Entertainment

* 2002 closed









Ideal

Hoyne 1622 Larrabee

AKA: Roscoe

2046 W Division 1914-1958

1912-1938 680 seats









Chicago Page 25

Illington Imperial Irving

2118 W Cermak 2329 W Madison 4005 Irving Park CTA Irving Park

1916-? 1964 1910-1969 September 1, 1917-1969

940 seats 1,035 seats 1,400 seats

Owners: * 1910 opened * 1917 opened as Irving Park

1920 Marks and Goodman * 1940's became an Afro-American theatre. * Early 1930 are taken over by Essaness

1930 Goodman and Harrision * 1969 closed after the riots Theatres

* 1994 demolished * 1948 renovated and renamed Irving

* 1969 closed









Image

AKA: Le Image, Standard

Near North

1969-1979

Adult cinema

Independence

AKA: Road

3723 W Roosevelt

1912-? 1935

566 seats

Owner in 1935: Rose Booking Circuit



Indiana

221 e 43rd st CTA 43rd St

1910-? 1955

This Afro-American theatre had 685 seats.



International

9223 S Commercial

? 1915-? 1935

272 seats



Iris Irving

5747 Chicago 1310 S Halsted

1912-1952 1912-1935

1,019 seats 298 seats

Owners:

1925 Simansky and Miller

1930 Balabian and Katz Jackson Park

6711 Stony Island

? 1930-1960

1,420 seats

Owners:

1930 Balabian and Katz

1935 Saperstein, A.

1940 others

1955 Allied Buying and Booking Service



Janet

617 W North

? 1930-? 1945

300 seats









Chicago Page 26

Jeff Julian Ken

4750 Milwaukee 918 Belmont CTA Belmont AKA: Kenwood



1937-? 1950 ? 1925-? 1950 1225 E 47th st

491 seats 737 seats 1940-1961

Demolished in 2005 885 seats

Owners: Allied Buying and Booking Service owned

Jeffery this theatre 1950-1955

1952 E 71st st 1925 James Costen

1924-1976 1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1,793 seats 1935 Essaness Theatres Kenwood

AKA: Ken

* 1924 opened by Cooney Brothers 1225 E 47th st

* 1930's taken over by Warner Brothers 1913-1939

* Early 1950's Warner Brothers sells it 885 seats

* Late 1960's taken over by Standard Owners:

Theatres, Inc 1920 Ascher Brothers

* 1976 closed 1925 others

* 1998 demolished 1935 Schoenstadt and Sons (Booked by

Coston Booking Circuit in 1930)

Jerry Lewis

3501 S Cork Kim

1971-1972 6218 S Halsted CTA Halstead

1950-1965

Karlor

? 1955 Kimbark

6240 S Kimbark

Karlov 1913-1960

4048 W Armitage 688 seats

1917-1950 * 1913 opened

Joy 932 seats * Early 1920 are taken over by Fox Midwest

1611 W Roosevelt Owner in 1935: Stern, Charles Theatres

1936-1952 * Late 1920 are taken over by Rex Theatres

Essaness Theatres owned this 946-seat * Early 1930 are taken over by Rose

Kedzie & Annex 2 Booking Circuit until the late 1930's

Afro-American theatre. 3204 W Madison * Jan 1, 1935 Renovated

? 1935-1962 * Late 1940 are taken over by Allied Buying

Joy 1,396, 750 total 2,146 seats and Booking Service

9233 Commercial Av. The first screen opened about 1910. * 1960 closed

? 1940-? 1945 Owners: * 1999 demolished

Owner in 1950: Balaban,H & E 1950 Lindau, Charles Theatres

1955 Allied Buying and Booking Service

Joyland

614 S State CTA Harrison

? 1950

270 seats









Kimbark

75xx S Kimbark

? 1930

Coston Booking Circuit owned this theatre



Kino

659 W North CTA North Olyburn

? 1945-? 1955

440 seats









Chicago Page 27

Knickerbocker Lakeside Lane Court

AKA: Devon 4730 Sheridan 322 W Armitage

1916-? 1930 1915-1966 ? 1930-1961

Lubliner & Trinz owned this cinema. 960 seats 925 seats

* 1915 opened by Lubliner & Trinz

Kosciusko * Early 1960 are taken over by Balabian Langley

? 1935-? 1940 and Katz 706 E 63rd st

299 seats * Late 1950's Balabian and Katz sell it ? 1910-1944

* 1966 closed 885 seats

* 1970 acquired by the Dance Center of

Lake Court Columbia College until 2000

? 1920-? 1925 * Now a youth center. LaSalle

Ascher Brothers owned this theatre. 152 W Division

? 1914-? 1940

Lakeshore 900 seats

AKA: Broadway

3175 N Broadway LaSalle

1914-? 1986 110 W Madison

525 seats 1914-1950

* 1914 opened 782 seats

* Late 1940 are taken over by Balabian and * 1910 opened

Katz * 1927 started to show movies

* 1968 taken over by ABC Great States * 1950 demolished

* 1974 taken over by Plitt Theatres

* Late 1980's taken over by the Cineplex

Odeon chain and renamed Broadway LaSalle Bank Cinema

* 2000 closed 4901 W. Irving

* 2001 reopened and closed again 2007-2008

* 2002 reopened as a venue for live Vintage movies are shown on Saturdays at

theater and renamed Lakeshore 8pm in this bank’s auditorium









Lawn

3419 W 63rd st

1912-? 1950

300 seats









Chicago Page 28

Lawndale Lexington Lincoln Hippodrome

4015 W Roosevelt 1162 E 63rd st 3164 Lincoln

1927-? 1955 1919-1970 1911-1950

2,000 seats 732 seats 1,200 seats

Owners: * 1912 opened at a cost of $300,000. Until

1930 Coston Booking Circuit the 1920's it was part of the Orpheum

1935 Saperstein, A. circuit

1940 Illinois-Indiana Theatres * 1930 a part of the auditorium was lost as

1955 others Ashland was widened

1969 Rex Theatres * Owner in 1950: Nomikos, Van



Lincoln Village

6341 N McCormick Rd

1968-2007

* 1968 opens as a single screen

* 1983 Essaness Theatres opens the

Lincoln Village 3

* 1986 Cineplex Odeon takes this theatre

over

Lawndale 10 * 1989 the original Lincoln Village is

3330 W Roosevelt Rd renamed L. V. 7-9 as the new Lincoln

November 1997- June 2007 Village 1-6 opened

Owners: * 1998 became part of Loews Cineplex

1997 ICE and Cineplex Odeon * 2002 Lincoln Village 7-9 closed and

1998 ICE and Loews Cineplex demolished

? 2000 ICE and Marcus * 2006 taken over by AMC and sold again

This cinema and the Woodlawn and Lexington * 2008 Village loses it, it closed later in the

Chatham 14 all opened on the same day. It 715 S Pulaski was S Crawford year.

has the same design as South Keys 12 in ? 1935-? 1955

Ottawa and St. Bruno 11 near Montréal. 650 seats

Warner Brothers owned this theatre in

1935



Liberty

3705 Fullerton

? 1935-1951

632 seats

Essaness Theatres owned this theatre.



Lido

? 1930

Schoenstadt and Sons (Booked by Coston

Booking Circuit in 1930) owned this theatre



Lincoln

3134 S State

? 1930-? 1964

Lev 1,200 seats

63rd St Nomikos, Van owned this cinema.

? 1955

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned

this cinema.









Chicago Page 29

Linden Little German Logan Square

743 W 63rd st CTA Halsted AKA: Wiley, Lincoln Webster 2542 N Milwaukee

? 1930-1957 2153 Lincoln 1913-? 1945

700 seats 1939-1941 1,318 seats

Owners: Theatre renamed when the US declared

1930 Coston Booking Circuit war on Nazi Germany

* 1911 opened as Wiley Logan Theatre

1935 Rose Booking Circuit 2648 N Milwaukee

1940 Illinois and Indiana Theatres * 1939 renamed Little German

* 1941 renamed Lincoln Webster and 1915-? 1995

closed. 959 seats

Owners:

1935 Rex Theatres

Little Ogden 1940-1964 Nomikos, Van

2758 W Ogden

? 1945-? 1950

436 seats Loomis

2858 S Archer

1913-? 1950

Little Paramount 280 seats

2153 Lincoln

? 1935-? 1950

296 seats Loop

AKA: Telenews

165 N State

Linder Little Village ? 1920-1978

? 1955 AKA: Homen * 1939 opened as Telenews, which had a

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned 3346 W 26th st United Press Teletype machine in the

this cinema. 1910-? 1934 lobby next to the usher who spiked the

copy on the wall behind the machine. This

Lindy Logan 5 theatre had shown a newsreel, a couple of

AKA: Lawndale, Americus

2648 N Milwaukee CTA Logan Square cartoons, a comical short and "The March

3437 Ogden

? 1998- of Time"

? 1935-? 1950

* 1950-1954 no ads in the Tribuine

550 seats

* 1954 renamed Loop and shown

* 1910 opened as Americus

exploitation films until 1978, which was

* Early 1930's renamed Lindy as it is taken

closed.

over by Simansky and Miller

* 1960's when "Flipper" opened the owner

* Late 1930's Simansky and Miller sells it

set up a giant tank on State St, which had a

* Allied Buying and Booking Service

dolphin inside, for "Equinox" staff

booked it in 1950

parading around in ape costumes.

* 1970's the longest running movie "The

Lindy Stewardesses" played for 42 weeks

1710 W Madison * 1978 closed

? 1935-? 1950

388 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned

it in 1950



Lion

1714 W 18th St

? 1913-? 1915



Little

AKA: Panorama, Essex

717 W Sheridan

1913-? 1930 Lorraine

* 1913 opened as Panorama ? 1930-? 1935

* 1920's renamed Little 300 seats

* 1939 renamed Essex

* 1962 closed









Chicago Page 30

Louis Madison

108 E 35th st 125 W Madison

? 1940-? 1955 ? 1915-? 1920

This Afro-American theatre had 760-seats.

Owners: Madison Square

1950 Lindau, Charles Theatres AKA: Byrd

1955 Allied Buying and Booking Service 4730 W Madison

1917-1925

Lucile Lubliner & Trinz owned this 1,390-seat

AKA: Vet theatre

653 N Cicero

? 1925-? 1935 Magnolia

299 seats 2810 W Fullerton

Simansky and Miller owned this theatre in ? 1910

1925

Main

Luna 4815 W Armitage

4731 W Belmont ? 1940-? 1950

1937-1983 299 seats

871 seats

Owners: Majestic

1937 Balabian and Katz W Monroe

1968 ABC Great States ? 1935-? 1940

1974-1978 Plitt Theatres 1,969 seats



Lynn Manor

1044 W 63rd st 5609 W North

? 1913-? 1950 1924-1958

This Afro-American theatre had 299-seats. Balaban and Katz owned this 1,835-seat

theatre.

Lyric

320 S State Marbo

? 1907-? 1936 4110 W Madison

290 seats 1926-1963

Balaban and Katz owned this 3,931-seat

Lyric theatre. It was the largest in Chicago.

22nd St

? 1920-? 1940

300 seats

Jones, Linick & Schaefer owned this

theatre in 1920



Lyric

3950 W Cermak

? 1945-? 1955

300 seats



Madilin

1910 W Madison

1916-1956

Owners:

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1950-1955 Allied Buying and Booking

Service

This Afro-American theatre had 750-seats









Chicago Page 31

Marina I,II & III Marshall Square McVickers

300 N. State Street AKA: Apollos 2000 25 W Madison

1970-1977 2871 W Cermak 1922-1979

* 1970 United Artists opens this theatre 1917-1967 2,266 seats

* 1976 the projectionist union disagreed 1,340 seats * 1857 1st McVicker's theatre opened on

forcing the 3rd screen to shut down Owners: Madison near Dearborn Street it was

* 1977 Cinemas closed, this theatre never 1930-1967 Goodman and Harrision destroyed in the great fire of 1871

caught on, it was showing 2nd run movies * 1872 2nd McVicker's opened; it was

for most of its 7 years. remodeled in 1884-5, heavily damaged in a

Seating: 296 198 168 total 662 fire in 1890.

* 1890 3rd McVicker's opened, it was

demolished in 1922

* 1922 4th Mc Vickers opened

* 1930 Film Daily Yearbook listed it as part

of Balaban and Katz

* 1940 Owner: Jones, Linick & Schaefer

* 1960 Cinerama arrived here

* 1970's adult movies

* 1984 closed

* 1985 demolished



Marshfield

1650 W Roosevelt

Mercury

? 1955

1916-? 1925

Goodman and Harrision owned this 296-

seat theatre. Metro

3308 W Lawrence CTA Kimball

Maryland 1915-1952

896 seats

855 E 63rd st CTA Cottage Grove 63rd st

* 1915 opened, the entrance was beside

1918-1971

the screen.

Marlowe Hippodrome Balaban and Katz owned this 1,499-seat

* 1930's were a last-run house

theatre since the late 1920's

6254 S Stewart * 1952 closed

1892-1935 Owners:

1,050 seats Mayfair 1930 Balaban and Katz

AKA: Clearing

1932-1945 others

5722 W 63rd st

Marquette ? 1935-1951

1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service

3157 W 63rd st 250 seats

1917-1981 * 1900's opened as Clearing Metropole

900 seats * Early 1930's renamed Mayfair 238 W 31st st

Owners: * 1951 closed, became a union hall ? 1910-? 1950

1925 Balaban and Katz * 2004-2005 playhouse 300 seats

1930 Stern, Joseph (Booked by Balabian

and Katz)

1935-1981 others

Mc Clurg Court

330 E Ohio St

1971-2003

Mars 1,189 seats (as triplex), 1,350 seats 1971-

CTA Logan Square 1988

? 1950 * 1971 opened

* 1988 Taken over by Cineplex Odeon and

split into 3 cinemas

* 2003 Closed









Chicago Page 32

Metropolitan Michigan

AKA: Met 110 E 55th St

4644 S Parkway 1916-1961

1917-1970 This Afro-American theatre had 1,391 seats.

1,388 seats Demolished 1994

* 1917 opened Owners:

* Ascher Brothers staffed the 1916 Lubliner & Trinz

Metropolitan with an all-white staff, as the 1620 others

neighborhood was mostly Irish and 1925 Essaness Theatres

German-Jewish. After WW I Afro-American

poured in from the south.

* 1923 a black customer filed a complaint Mid City

of discrimination with the NAACP, Ascher 613 W Madison

Brothers pledged to work with the NAACP ? 1935-? 1945

to avoid any more discrimination. 500 seats

* Mid 1920's Sammy Stewart, the biggest

name in Jazz in Chicago performed here. Midtown

* 1926 Carl Lewis, a black man was hired as 718 W 47th st

the assistant manager in 1926, the first ? 1950-? 1955

time an Afro-American rose to managerial 300 seats

ranks in a theatre.

* Late 1920 are booked by Coston Booking Midway Hipp

Circuit 6250 S Cottage Grove CTA Cottage Grove

* Early 1930's taken over by Warner 63

Brothers, which became Stanley Warner in

Michael Todd

the late 1950's, became an Afro-American AKA: Dearborn Cinemas

1909-1950

This Afro-American theatre had 900 seats

theatre. 180 Dearborn Owner in 1950: Gollos Managements

* 1937 listed as Met in the newspapers. 1959-1977

* 1979 closed 600 seats Midwest

* 1959 opened, it was connected to the

3538 S Archer CTA 35 Archer

Cinestage next door

1925-1965

* 1970 Trans Beacon sold it to ABC Great

1,600 seats

States

Schoenstadt and Sons (Booked by Coston

* Mid 1970's became a move-over house

Booking Circuit in 1930) owned this theatre

and booked by Plitt.

1935-1965

* February 1977 closed (reopened in

October 1977 for 2 weeks for "The Lincoln

Conspiracy"

* September 1979 reopened to show

exploitation movies "The Mack", "Coffy"

etc.

* 1987 reopened with its neighbor the

Cinestage as the Dearborn Cinemas I & II

* 1988 closed (Did the building owner

Elizabeth Taylor ordered it shut when

adult movies played?)

* 1999 demolished except for the façade Milda

3140 S Halsted

1913-? 1950

850 seats









Chicago Page 33

Milford Chicago’s Moderne Cinema Monroe

3311 N Pulski Mode 57 W Monroe CTA Monroe Dearborn

1917-1990 AKA: Keystone, Festival, Teatro Puerto Rico 1924-1982

1,150 seats 3912 Sheridan 953 seats

Demolished 1994 1935-1957 * About 1920 William S. Barbee opened a

Owners: 807 seats theatre called Barbee's Loop Theater.

1917 Ascher Brothers * 1913 opened as Keystone When he tried to build a stage, the city

1925-1930 others * 1935 renamed Mode prevented it citing lack of exits

1935 Saperstein, A. * 1970 renamed Festival and shown adult * 1923 closed

1940-1945 others movies * 1924 reopened as Monroe

1950-1985 Balaban,H & E * 1983 renamed Teatro Puerto Rico * 1964-1982 adult movies

* Late 1980's closed, now a supermarket * The Xerox center now stands on the site









Milo Mont Claire

1821 S Loomis

7135 W Grand

1925-1954

1929-1980, 1984-1985

900 seats

1,200 seats

* 1925 opened as Milo

Owners:

* about 1930 owned by Balaban and Katz

1929 Coston Booking Circuit

at the time

1935 Rose Booking Circuit

* about 1935 owned by Reinheimer, L.

1940 Illinois and Indiana Theatres

* 1954 renamed Teatreo Villa

1945 others

* 1960's closed

1950-1955 Allied Buying and Booking

Service

1961- others



Monogram

3450 S State

? 1915-? 1930









Minsky's

State and Van Buren

1949-1951 (Movies)









Chicago Page 34

Music Box New New Lyric

3733 N Southport Av ? 1930-? 1940 718 E 47th st

1929-1977, 1983- Owners: ? 1935-? 1945

800 seats 1930 Rex Theatres 250 seats

* 1929 opened

* Owner in 1935: Lasker, Jacob & Sons New Berry New Mabel

* Owner 1950-1961: Allied Buying and 856 N Clark ? 1925-? 1930

Booking Service ? 1925-1966, 1970-1977

* 1977 closed 700 seats

* 1983 reopened New Oak

Owner in 1935 Saperstein, A. ? 1955

* 1991 2nd 100-seat cinema added next Owner in 1961 Allied Buying and Booking

door Service

Adult movies 1970-1977 New Oak

? 1925-? 1930

New Center

? 1925-? 1930 New Paris

1235 S Wabash

CTA Roosevelt Wabash

New Century ? 1935-? 1955

? 1940-? 1945 274 seats



New Dale New Regent

? 1940-? 1945 1826 S Halsted

1916-? 1950

New Drake 825 seats

3534 Montrose Owners:

? 1925-? 1940 1920 Gumbiner Brothers

1,700 seats 1925 others

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

New Groveland 1935 Rex Theatres

National ? 1940-? 1945 1940 others

608 S State CTA Harrison

? 1913-? 1955 New Home New Rex

277 seats 4815 Armitage 3678 W Grand

Owner in 1935: Rose Booking Circuit ? 1935-? 1935 ? 1945-? 1950

200 seats 500 seats

National

6219 S. Halsted St. New La Salle New Strand

1909-? 1935 152 W Division 2111 W Division

750 seats ? 1935-? 1940 ? 1935-? 1955

612 seats 600 seats

Navy Pier IMAX Allied Buying and Booking Service owned

600 E Grand Ave this theatre 1950-1955

New Langley

1995- 1911-? 1945

Owners: New Western

1995 Cineplex Odeon ? 1925

1998 Loews Cineplex New Lex James Costen owned this theatre,

2006 AMC ? 1940-? 1945

Nirvinia

New Lexington ? 1935

? 1940

Nita

New Liberty 2915 N Milwaukee

? 1940 ? 1940-? 1950

770 seats

Owner in 1950: Nomikos, Van









Chicago Page 35

Normal Norval

456 W 119th st AKA: Butler



1937-? 1960 518 W 26th st

750 seats ? 1940-? 1950

280 seats

Norshore

1749 Howard CTA Howard NRA

1926-1957 5740 Prairie

Balaban and Katz owned this 2,999-seat ? 1935-? 1950

theatre This Afro-American theatre, which is

named for the National Recovery

Administration had 700 seats.

North Centre

4031 N Lincoln

1933-1963 Oak

Essaness Theatres owned this theatre. 2008 N Western CTA Western Milwaukee

1910-1979

848 seats

* 1910 opened

* 1930's renovented and owned by Kidland

Amusement Co.

* 1935-1940 owned by Bland Brothers

* 1950-1955 owned by Allied Buying and

Booking Service

* 1970-1979 adult movies

* 1992 reopened as a concert hall

* 1995 closed and demolished



Oak Park

? 1920-? 1930

Lubliner & Trinz owned this theatre.



Oakland

3861 S Cottage Grove

? 1913-? 1930









North Park College

? 1989-? 1990



North Shore

6610 n sheridan

? 1913-? 1927



Nortown

6320 N Western

April 4, 1931-1990

2,086 seats

* April 4, 1931 opened by Balaban and Katz

* 1968 became part of ABC Great State

Theatres

* 1974 Plitt Theatres

* 1984 triplexed

* 1986 sold to Cineplex Odeon

* 1990 closed





Chicago Page 36

Oakland Square Omnimax

3947 Drexel 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive

March 4, 1916-? 1965 ? 1999-

1,437 seats

* March 4, 1916 opened by Asher Brothers

* Late 1920's-Early 1930's owned by Coston

Booking Circuit

* Early 1930's taken over by Warner

Brothers started to cater to Afro-

Americans

* 1965 closed

* 1985 headquarters of the El Ruskin street

gang in the 1980's

* 1990 demolished

Orchestra Hall

S Michigan

? 1935

1,000 seats



Oriental

20 W Randolph

1926-1981

3,164 seats

* 1926 opened by Balaban and Katz until

the late 1930's

* 1940 owned by Jones, Linick & Schaefer

Oakley * 1950 owned by Essaness Theatres

2320 W Chicago * 1969 2 screens

1917-1953 * Late 1970's started to show grade-B

950 seats action and Kung-Fu moives attended by

* 1917 opened minority teenagers

* 1930 Langdon, V. R. owned it * 1981 stopped showing movies

* Early morning of August 31, 1953 a gas * Early 1980's an electronics store

line explosion destroyed this theatre occupied the lobby

during one of the worst heat wave in * 1998 reopened as the Ford Center for the

Chicago leaving one dead. Performing Arts Oriental Theatre



Ogden

2760 Ogden Av

? 1940



Ogden

AKA: West Englewood

1619 W 63rd st CTA Ashland/63

? 1940-1963

2,042 seats

Owner 1940-1963: Stanley Warner



Ohio

? 1940-? 1945



Olympia

4619 S Ashland

1917-1950

582 seats

Owners:

1930 Kidland Amusements

1935-1940 Bland Brothers









Chicago Page 37

Orpheum * 1999 restored and renamed the Cadillac Palace

110 S State Palace (GM paid for the naming rights) 1828 S Halsted

1907-? 1940 1915-? 1950

677 seats 440 seats

* 1907 opened as a vaudeville theatre * 1915 opened

featuring continuous vaudeville from 9- Harry Houdini performed here at Jan 8-13,

11pm, 15 shows a day with attendence 1923, Feb 6-11 1922, Dec 28 1914-Jan 2, 1915

reaching 10,000 a day on weekends. * Owner 1935: Rose Booking Circuit

* 1909 started to show movies * Owner 1940-1950 Illinois and Indiana

* 1920 owned by Marks and Goodman Theatres

* 1920's sold to Warner Brothers

* 1940's closed









Palace

Cicero St.

? 1945

Orpheus

AKA: Joy Palm

1611 W Roosevelt 4247 W Irving Park

1913-1936 1913-? 1930

700 seats

Owners: Panorama

1930 Coston Booking Circuit AKA: Little, Essex

1935 Essaness Theatres 717 N Sheridan

1932-1939

Owl 653 seats

4653 S State * 1913 opened as Panorama

1916-? 1950 * 1920's renamed Little

This Afro-American theatre had 940 seats. * 1939 renamed Essex

Owners: * 1962 closed

1930 Coston Booking Circuit

1935 Rose Booking Circuit

1940 Illinois and Indiana Theatres



Palace

1133 Blue Island Av.

? 1935

Schoenstadt and Sons owned this 850-seat

theatre.



Palace

AKA: New Palace, RKO Palace, Bismarck, Cadillac Palace

151 W Randolph

1926-1966

2,500 seats

* October 4, 1926 opened as New Palace

* 1931 remamed RKO Palace

* Mid 1950's Cinerama opened here as

Stanley Warner booked it.

* 1966-1969 renamed Bismarck theatre.

* 1970's seats removed to become a

banquet hall



Chicago Page 38

Pantheon Paramount

4642 Sheridan 1915-? 1930

1918-1959 Lubliner & Trinz owned this theatre.

2,000 seats

* 1918 opened with 3,000 seats, the largest Paris

theatre in Chicago at the time by Lubliner 618 S State

and Trinz at a cost of $750,000 ? 1910-? 1940

* Early 1930 are taken over by Balaban and

Katz

* 1959 closed Park

AKA: Peerless

* 1991 demolished 3955 S Parkway now Dr Martin Luther King

? 1940-1958

922 seats

Owner in 1950: Allied Buying and Booking

Service



Park

5962 W Lake CTA Austin Lake

1913-? 1955

500 seats

Owners:

1925 Simansky and Miller

1930 Schoenstadt and Sons

1935-1945 others

1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service









Park Manor

324 E 69th st.

1914-1950

Paradise 299 seats

231 N Crawford CTA Pulski Lake Owner in 1930 Coston Booking Circuit

September 14, 1928-1956

3,612 seats Parkside

* September 14, 1928 opened 1548 N. Clark

* 1931 closed as it lost money to the Marbo ? 1915

theatre. * Late 1910's opened as Parkside

* 1934-1956 opened * 1920 owned by

* 1956-1958 demolished for a supermarket, Gumbiner Brothers

it took 2 years instead of the 6 months * 1934 renamed Gold Coast

planned * 1962 closed

* 1967 reopened as Village

* 1971-1979 Male adult movies are shown

* Early 1990's 4 screens

* 2003 renamed Art

* Late 2005 closed









Chicago Page 39

Parkway Chicago’s Newest Amusement Peerless

2736 N. Park St. AKA: Park

Center 3955 S Dr Martin Luther King

? 1935

Rex Theatres owned this 750-seat theatre. Patio October 10, 1917-? 1935

6008 Irving Park Ascher Brothers owned this theatre until

1926-2001 the early 1920's

Parkway 1,500 seats

2736 N Clark

1910-1984

620 seats



Pastime

66 W Madison

? 1915-? 1945

390 seats

Coston Booking Circuit booked this

theatre in 1930









Peoples

1620 W 47th st

1918-1989

1,850 seats

Schoenstadt and Sons owned this theatre

from 1930-1964









Paulina

1339 N Paulina

? 1925-? 1975

820 seats

Owner in 1925: Gumbiner Brothers



Pershing

1918-? 1930

Lubliner & Trinz owned this theatre.



Phil Smith 660 Outdoor

? 1955



Chicago Page 40

No Tribune listings, in the suburbs? Pipers Alley 4 Plaisance

1608 N Wells St 466 N Parkside

Piccadilly May 24, 1991- ? 1925-? 1950

1443 E Hyde Park Owners: 400 seats

1927-1963 1991 Cineplex Odeon Owners:

Schoenstadt and Sons owned this 3,000- 1998 Loews Cineplex 1925 Simansky and Miller

seat theatre. 2006 AMC 1930 Schoenstadt and Sons

1935 others

1940 Simansky and Miller

1945 others

1950 Allied Buying and Booking Service









Older photo









Playboy

1204 N Dearborn

September 29, 1964-1976

* May 7, 1942 opened as Surf

* September 29, 1964 renamed Playboy

* October 8, 1976 renamed Chelex

* June 3, 1977 renamed Sandburg

* 1982 closed

This theatre despite its name was not an

adult theatre (some minor exceptions)









Pix

47 & Drexel

1937-1942









Pickford

108 E 35th st

July 4, 1914-? 1945



Pickwick

NW Highway at Touhy in Park Ridge

1937-1941



Pioneer

4019 N Narragansett

? 1915-? 1940





Playhouse

? 1920-? 1930









Chicago Page 41

Plaza Portage President

308 W North CTA Sedgwick brown purple AKA: Portage Park 341 E Garfield

1909-1951 4050 N Milwaukee 1912-? 1930

1,194 seats 1931-2001, May 19, 2006- 764 seats

Owners: 1,838 seats

1930 Coston Booking Circuit * 1929 Ascher Brothers sold it to Fox

1935 others * 1932 turned over to the GCS circuit and

1950 Essaness Theatres renovated

* 1940 lobby renovated

* 1940 part of Balaban and Katz

Plaza 3 * 1975 part of Brotman and Sherman

3343 W Devon circuit and briefly was a live county music

1981-? 1998 hall hosting Conway Twitty and Loretta

Owners: Lynn

1981 Essaness Theatres * 1980 M & R took it over for a laser light

1986 Cineplex Odeon show and twinned it later in the year Princess

1998 Loews Cineplex * 2001 closed 319 S Clark

This theatre had been demolished for a * May 19, 2006 reopened as a single-screen 1906-? 1945

Home Depot cinema showing silent films. 950 seats

http://www.silentfilmchicago.com

Plaza Art

308 W. North Avenue

1963-1967

Adult Cinema









Public

4712 Prairie CTA 47th st

? 1935-? 1950

This Afro-American theatre had 700 seats.









Portage Park

AKA: Portage

4050 N Milwaukee

1920-1931

1,890 seats



Praga

? 1940-? 1945

Punch & Judy

AKA: Central, Capri, Seinway Hall, Sonotone, Studio

Prairie 66 E Van Buren

5748 s prairie 1930-1934

1915-? 1930 * 1893 opened as Steinway hall for

concerts

* 1910 renamed Central theatre

* 1930 closed and reopened as Punch and

Judy

* 1934 renamed Sonotone

* 1940 renamed Studio

* 1958 renamed Capri to show adult

movies

* 1972 closed









Chicago Page 42

Queen Ramova Randolph

2543 W North 3518 S Halsted 14 W Randolph

? 1910-? 1950 August 21, 1929-1971, 1976-1978 1919-? 1945

299 seats 1,100 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service booked * August 21,1929 opened. Coston Booking

this theatre in 1950 Circuit booked it at the time

* 1940 The Great Dictator opened here and

Radio the Music Box since the Loop palaces

5035 S Halsted refused it

1936-1950 * 1950 listings disappeared from the

450 seats Chicago Tribune

* 1914 opened as home * Mid 1980's closed, showing Spanish

* 1930 closed movies.

* 1936 reopened as Radio showing movies

as old as 2 years.

* 1940 owned by Bland Brothers at the

time

* 1950 closed









Rainbow

645 W 120th st

? 1916-? 1935 Ray

734 seats 2638 E 75th st

1935-1950

585 seats

* 1912 opened as Windsor Park

* 1935 renamed Ray

* 1950 closed by Gollos Management.









Chicago Page 43

Regal Regent Theatre of the Stars

4719 S Parkway 6826 S Halsted Rhodes

1928-? 1968 ? 1925-1951 544 E 79th st

2,797 seats * 1915 opened as New Regent 1937-1984

* 1928 opened by Lubliner & Trinz. It had * 1925 owned by H. Schoenstadt and Sons 1,432 seats

unusual hiring practices at the time as it * 1930 owned by Rex Theatres * 1937 opened by Warner Brothers

had mostly an Afro-American * Mid 1930's renovated and renamed * Mid 1960's Stanley Warner sells it

management. Duke Ellington, Billie Regent * Mid 1970's owned by Brotman and

Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, * 1951 closed Sherman Theatres

Aretha Franklin and it is said that Nat King * 1984 closed

Cole got his start in this theatre's amateur Regent

hour. AKA: 400, Village Art

* Depression years: closed down by 6746 N Sheridan

Balaban and Katz but an outcry from the 1912-1932

neighborhood forced it to reopen. * 1912 opened as Regent

* 1939 attendence soured. * 1932 renamed 400

* 1946 Renovented * Late 1980's split into 4 screens

* 1968 closed * 1996 renamed Village Art

* 1971 fire damaged this theatre

* 1973 demolished. Revelry

342 E 47th st

1910-1924









Revue

3956 N Elston

1934-1950

424 seats



Rex

6848 S Racine

? 1915-? 1964

500 seats

* Early 1910's opened

* Late 1920's-Late 1930's owned by Rex

Theatres

* Late 1930's-1964 owned by Illinois and

Indiana Theatres









Chicago Page 44

Rialto Ridge River East 21

336 S State AKA: Ellentree 322 E Illinois

? 1920-1975 1554 Devon 2002-

1,574 seats 1930-1952 AMC owns this cinema.

Adult movies were shown 1971-1975 1,200 seats Seating:

This cinema did not put much ads in the * 1930 renamed Ridge 1-5: 121 121 121 234 166

* 1935 owned by Lasker, Jacob & Sons 6-10: 109 260 71 286 446

Tribune. Owner in 1920: Jones, Linick & 11-15: 336 427 191 71 99

Schaefer 16-20: 191 99 71 109 183

21: 187

Total 3,899 seats average 186 seats.









Rio

2540 N Milwaukee CTA Logan Sq.

1934-? 1955

1,200 seats

Owner in 1935 Rose Booking Circuit



Rita

2419 Wentworth

? 1940-? 1950

298 seats









Ridge

645 W 120th st.

? 1940-? 1950

734 seats









Chicago Page 45

Riveria Rivoli Rockne

4746 N Racine 4380 Elston AKA: Ambassador



1918-? 1990 1922-1949 5825 W Division

1,910 seats 1,302 seats 1931-1982

* 1918 opened by Jones, Linick & Schaefer * 1922 opened 1,760 seats

* 1920's taken over by Balaban and Katz * Late 1920's owned by Coston Booking * 1924 opened as Ambassador

* 1968 part of ABC Great States Circuit * 1931 Renamed Rockne after Knute

* 1974 part of Plitt Theatres * Early 1930's taken over by Saperstein, A., Rockne died in a plane crash.

* 1977 Sold to Esseness which sold it by the end of the 1930's * Early 1970's adult movies

* 1982 renovented * 1958 closed * 1982 closed and became a church

* 1986 part of Cineplex Odeon * 1969 reopened as a Muslim community

* Late 1980's closed and reopened as a center, which had classrooms, a bookstore

nightclub. It's now a live performing arts and a mosque.

center. Http://www.rivieratheatre.com









RKO Grand

119 N Clark

? 1945-1958



Road

AKA: Independence

3725 W Roosevelt

? 1940-1950

600 seats









Rogers

2516 Fullerton

? 1914-1953

480 seats

* About 1914 opened

* Late 1920's-Early 1930's owned by

Kidland Amusement Co.

* Early 1930's-early 1940's owned by Bland

Brothers

* 1950 booked by Allied Buying and

Booking Service

* 1953 closed.









Chicago Page 46

Roosevelt Rosewood Savoy

110 State 1823 W Montrose 4346 W Madison

1921-1979 1916-1953 1913-1952

1,535 seats 950 seats 490 seats

* 1921 opened Owner in 1920: Ascher Brothers Owner 1925-1940: Simansky and Miller

* 1923 Balaban and Katz buys it Owner in 1930: Coston Booking Circuit

* 1968 part of ABC Great States Schindler

* Early 1970's Kung Fu and blaxploitation 1005 W Huron

movies are shown ? 1905-? 1950

* 1974 part of Plitt Theatres 700 seats

* September 1, 1979 closed

* 1980-9 entire block demolished for an

office tower, which was never built









Round-Up

2860 N Milwaukee

Late 1940's-1950

730 seats

* 1914 opened as Rose

* Late 1940s' renamed Round-Up and

shown westerns

Roscoe * 1950 closed

2046 W Division

1938-1953

690 seats

Bland Brothers owned it in 1940



Rose Roxy

63 W Madison ? 1940-? 1955

1914-? 1935 Schoenstadt and Sons owned it in 1955

300 seats

Royal

Rose AKA: Star

AKA: Round-Up

1453 N Milwaukee

2860 N Milwaukee

? 1925-? 1950

? 1914-? 1945

1,400 seats

700 seats

* 1914 opened as Rose

* Late 1940s' renamed Round-Up and Rush

shown westerns Delaware and Rush

* 1950 closed 1972-1974

Adult theatre

Rosette

? 1940-? 1945 Sandburg

AKA: Surf, Playboy, Chelex

1204 N Dearborn

1979-1983

* May 7, 1942 opened as Surf

* September 29, 1964 renamed Playboy

* October 8, 1976 renamed Chelex

* June 3, 1977 renamed Sandburg

* 1982 closed









Chicago Page 47

Senate Shakespeare Shore

3128 W Madison AKA: Ellis 2507 E 75th st

1921-1957 940 e 43rd st December 29, 1927-1957

2,999 seats 1914-1957 1,498 seats

* 1921 opened 1,000 seats Owners:

* 1957 closed by balaban and Katz, * About 1910 opened as Ellis by Brunhild 1927 balaban and Katz

reopened as a Spanish cinema. and Youngs 1935 Warner Brothers

* 1968-1969 adult movies * 1914 sold to the Schoenstadt circuit and

* 1977 demolished renamed Shakespeare

* 1961 closed



Shangri-La

222 N State

1970-1978

Adult theatre.



Sheridan

4038 Sheridan CTA Sheridan

1927-1951

2,649 seats

* February 12, 1927 opened by Essaness

Theatres

* 1951 closed became a synagogue

* 1966 the synagogue moved out

* Mid 1980's reopened as Teatro Palacio

* Early 1990's closed and demolished

ShowPlace 12 Wilson Yards

CANCELLED

1036 W Montrose

Cancelled

In February 2006, Kerasotes ShowPlace Theatres

LLC dropped its plans to open a 12-screen movie

theater in the Wilson Yards development, stating

that construction costs would be too high.

"Whenever you build up, it's a lot more

expensive," said Tony Kerasotes, the movie

chain's CEO in Crane's Chicago Business. The

movie theater would have cost about $24 million

to build, but Kerasotes' financial projections

would only justify a cost of about $18 million, said

Holsten President Peter Holsten.









Chicago Page 48

Abracadabra! More Movies with Silver Southway

Magic ? 1940 ? 1935

ShowPlace 14 Galewood

Sonotone Springfield

Crossings 66 E Van Buren ? 1930

5530 W. Homer 1934-1940 Illinois and Indiana Theatres owned this

June 29, 2007- * 1893 opened as Steinway hall for concerts theatre.

Kerasotes is building this theatre, It has an * 1910 renamed Central theatre

“Code of Conduct card” policy. It was sold * 1930 closed and reopened as Punch and

to AMC in 2010. Stadium

Judy 1803 S Blue Island

* 1934 renamed Sonotone ? 1911-? 1945

* 1940 renamed Studio 280 seats

* 1958 renamed Capri to show adult movies Nomikos, Van owned this theatre in 1940.

* 1972 closed

Standard

AKA: Le Image

750 N Clark

? 1930-? 1955

397 seats



Stanley

AKA: Royal

3010 E 79th st

? 1935-? 1940

300 seats

Southtown

610 W 63rd st

1931-1958 Star

Balaban and Katz owned this 3,202-seat 1453 N Milwaukee

theatre. ? 1912-? 1920



ShowPlace ICON 16-Roosevelt Star

Collection 1415 W Fullerton

? 1913-? 1915

150 W. Roosevelt in the Roosevelt

* The movie "The Color of Money" with

Collection

Paul Newman was filmed in this building

December 2009-

when it was a pool hall.

This theatre will have an VIP section



Star

68 W Madison

1914-1922

* 1914 opened

* 1921 Jones, Linick & Schaefer buys it for

$50,000

* 1922 converted into retail



Star

411 e 43rd st

1914-? 1950

450 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned it

in 1950









Chicago Page 49

Star-Garter State-Lake Stratford

815 W Madison 180 N State 715 W 63rd st CTA Halstead

1908-? 1955 1919-1984 1919-1952

1,500 seats 2,649 seats 2,433 seats

* 1908 opened as a burlesque theater * 1919 opened by the Orpheum Circuit Owners:

* 1971 this theatre appeared in the Italian * 1938 Balaban and Katz take it over 1925 National Theatres (Cooney Bros.)

movie "My Name Is Rocco Papaleo" with * 1941 switched to movies only 1930 Coston Booking Circuit

Marcello Mastroianni. * 1968 became part of ABC Great States 1935 Warner Brothers

* 1973 demolished for a parking lot for the theatres

bank next door * 1974 became part of Plitt Theatres

* 1985 closed and gutted for the WLS-TV-7

State (ABC) studios

5816 W Madison

1925-? 1969

1,912 seats

* 1925 opened by Lubliner & Trinz

* Early 1930's joined balaban and Katz

* Late 1960's closed









States

3507 S State

1913-1969

This Afro-American theatre had 600 seats

Studebaker

State-Congress Stony ? 1930

6900 stony

? 1935-? 1940

1950-1958 Studio

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned it AKA: Steinway Hall, Central, Punch and Judy, Sonotone, Capri

State-Harrison in 1950 66 E Van Buren

546 S State 1940-1958

? 1935-? 1950 349 seats

260 seats

Strand

AKA: City * 1893 opened as Steinway hall for concerts

* 1911 opened as U. S. Music Hall 3031 N Lincoln * 1910 renamed Central theatre

* 1930 renamed State-Harrison 1914-? 1945 * 1930 closed and reopened as Punch and

* Early 1950's closed * 1914 opened as Strand Judy

* Late 1930's renamed City * 1934 renamed Sonotone

* Mid 1960's closed * 1940 renamed Studio

* 1958 renamed Capri to show adult movies

* 1972 closed









Chicago Page 50

Sun Teatreo Palacio Terminal

AKA: Sunnyside 4038 Sheridan 3315 Lawrence

7219 Wentworth ? 1985-? 1990 1915-1963

? 1945-1950 * 1927 opened 2.389 seats

Allied Buying and Booking Service owned * 1951 closed became a synagogue * 1916 opened at 3308 W. Lawrence

this 600-seat theatre. * 1966 the synagogue moved out * 1926 rebuilt at 3315 W. Lawrence and

* Mid 1980's reopened as Teatro Palacio joined balaban and Katz

Sundance 8 * Early 1990's closed and demolished * 1963 closed

Spring 2009 (delayed)

This cinema is being built by Sundance Teatreo Puerto Rico

Cinemas. AKA: Keystone, Mode, Festival

3912 Sheridan

Sunnyside 1983-? 1985

7219 S Wentworth * 1913 opened as Keystone

1932-1940 * 1935 renamed Mode

* 1913 opened as Triangle * 1970 renamed Festival and shown adult

* 1932 renamed Sunnyside movies

* 1950 closed as Sun * 1983 renamed Teatro Puerto Rico

* Late 1980's closed

Surf

AKA: Chelex, Playboy, Sandburg Teatro Azteca

1204 N Dearborn 213 Milwaukee

1942-1964 ? 1978-? 1990

650 seats

* May 7, 1942 opened as Surf by Balaban, H Teatro Villa

&E 1821 S Loomis

* September 29, 1964 renamed Playboy ? 1989-? 1990

* October 8, 1976 renamed Chelex * 1925 opened as Milo

* June 3, 1977 renamed Sandburg

* 1982 closed

* 1954 renamed Teatreo Villa Termite

* 1960's closed Near North

1973-1976

Telenews See Aadvark for more details

AKA: Loop

165 N State

1939-1953

Terrace

AKA: Avenue

* 1939 opened as Telenews, which had a 3108 S Indiana

United Press Teletype machine in the lobby ? 1945-? 1955

next to the usher who spiked the copy on This Afro-American theatre had 1,036 seats.

the wall behind the machine. This theatre

had shown a newsreel, a couple of cartoons,

a comical short and "The March of Time"

Thalia

1807 S Alport

Swanson * 1954 renamed Loop and shown

1892-? 1950

AKA: Oakland exploitation films until 1978, which was

3861 S Cottage Grove 700 seats

closed.

1908-? 1913 Owners:

* 1960's when "Flipper" opened the owner

1930 balaban and Katz

set up a giant tank on State St, which had a

1935 Reinheimer, L.

Symphony dolphin inside, for "Equinox" staff parading

1940 others

4937 W Chicago around in ape costumes.

1929-? 1950 * 1970's the longest running movie "The

1,705 seats Stewardesses" played for 42 weeks

This was the only WB theatre outside of the * 1978 closed

south side.

Temple

Tabor 5241 N Clark

4147 W Roosevelt ? 1935-? 1945

? 1913 * 1910 opened as Acme by the Gumbiner Theatorium

Brothers 178 N. State

* Early 1930's renamed Temple 1911-1917

* Late 1940's closed 300 seats









Chicago Page 51

Three Penny Theatre Town Unique

AKA: Crest 2000 Clark State and Van Buren

2424 N Lincoln Ave ? 1959-1973 1919-? 1930

1968-2006 Adult cinema. Jones, Linick & Schaefer owned this 300-

http://www.3pennycinema.com/ seat theatre.

* 1912 opened as a nickelodeon

* Early 1930's closed Town Talkie

* Late 1930's reopened as Crest ? 1935-? 1950 United Artists

* 1972 Deep Throat opened 45 W Randolph

* 1970's split into 2 cinemas of 230, 120 Town Underground December 26, 1927-1987

This theatre hosted the FBI sharpshooters 322 W Armitage 1,703 seats

* 1921 opened as Apollo as a playhouse

to prevent Dilinger's escape from the 1967-1970

* December 26, 1927 renamed United Artists

Biograph. 750 seats * 1930's taken over by Balaban and Katz

* Early 1920's opened by the Ascher * 1968 part of ABC Great States

Brothers as the Lane Court * 1974 Plitt Theatres

* 1967 renamed Town Underground and * 1986 Cineplex Odeon

shown adult movies * November 19, 1987 closed and demolished for

* 1970 became a concert hall called the an office tower. The Mills Properties started work

Lane Court and later Park West in March 2006 for the 108 North State project









Tiffen

4045 W North

1922-1985

2,000 seats

Owners:

1930 Balaban and Katz

1935 Reinheimer, L.

1940 others

1955 Allied Buying and Booking Service

1960 others



Times

4847 N Milwaukee

1936-1954

994 seats



Tivoli

6329 Cottage Grove United States

? 1921-? 1963 ? 1930

3,414 seats

University

Today Triangle ? 1913 W Van Buren

AKA: Sunnyside, Sunny ? 1905

58 W Madison 7219 S Wentworth

1941-? 1975 1913-1932

300 seats * 1913 opened as Triangle

Newsreel theatre. * 1932 renamed Sunnyside

* 1950 closed as Sun

Tower

1510 E 63rd st.

1925-1953

2,995 seats

* April 11, 1926 opened by Lubliner & Trinz

* 1929 taken over by balaban and Katz

* 1953 closed









Chicago Page 52

Uptown Vernon Village

4816 Broadway CTA AKA: Amo 1549 N Clark St

1925-1978 434 E 61th st 1967-2003

4,320 seats (largest in Chicago at the time) ? 1915-? 1930 * Late 1910's opened as Parkside

Owners: * 1934 renamed Gold Coast

1925 Balaban and Katz Vet * 1962 closed

1968 ABC Great States AKA: Lucile * 1967 reopened as Village

1974 Plitt 653 N Cicero * 1971-1979 Male adult movies are shown

Now a concert hall. ? 1950-? 1955 * Early 1990's 4 screens

299 seats * 2003 renamed Art

* Late 2005 closed and reopened early in

Victoria 2006

AKA: Vic, Brew and View * 2007 closed

3145 N Sheffield

http://www.victheatre.com/

1912-

1,358 seats









Village North Theatre 4

V AKA: Visionary 4, Regent, 400



47/Drexel 6746 N Sheridan Rd

1942-1950 1996-2009

* 1912 opened as Regent

* 1932 renamed 400

Varsity * Late 1980's split into 4 screens

? 1930-? 1935 th

* September 24 , 2008- renamed Visionary

Balaban and Katz owned this theatre. 4

* Summer 2009 reopens as 400

Vendome

3145 S State

1919-? 1935

1,265 seats

* 1919 opened as the premier Afro-

American theatre in the south side. it cost

$250,000. The organ cost $10,000.

* 1926 Louis Armstrong performed here. Victory

* 1928 The Regal theatre opened causing a AKA: Vista

decline of attendance at the Vendome. 824 E 47th st

* Early 1930 are taken over by Essaness ? 1945-? 1950

Theatres 990 seats

* Late 1930's closed Afro-American theatre

* 1949 demolished Owner in 1950: Gollos Managements



Verdi Villa

303 Kensington 320 S Halsted

? 1920-? 1950 ? 1940-? 1955

383 seats 500 seats

Owner in 1920: Schoenstadt and Sons Villas

? 1920-? 1930

Owners:

1920 Gumbiner Brothers

1925 others

1930 Coston Booking Circuit





Chicago Page 53

Virginia Wallace Webster

210 e 43rd st 622 W 31st st 2157 N Damen

? 1910-? 1950 ? 1920-? 1955 ? 1930-? 1950

This Afro-American theatre had 273 seats 300 seats 530 seats

Owners: Coston Booking Circuit owned it in 1930

Vision 1920 Balaban and Katz

2650 W Division 1925-1930 others Webster Place

? 1930-1957 1935 Stern, Charles 1471 W Webster Ave

735 seats 1940-1945 others 1988-

1950 *a * 1988 opened by M & R with 8 screens and

Visionary 4 1,890 seats, which was shortly taken over

AKA: Village North, Regent Walton by Loew's

th

September 24 , 2008-January 2009 ? 1940 * 1998 taken over by Loews Cineplex and

expanded to 11 screens

Vista Washington * 2006 sold to AMC, it is up for sale.

AKA: Victory 3440 S State Kerasotes buys it.

824 E 47th st ? 1913-? 1940 * December 2007 Renovations.

? 1925-? 1935 * 2010 sold to Regal Cinemas as ordered.

800 seats

Owner in 1925: Ascher Brothers Water Tower

175 E Chestnut St

1976-2003

* 1976 opened by Plitt theatres with 4

screens

* 1984 3 more screens opens

* 1986 taken over by Cineplex Odeon

* 1998 back down to 4 screens. It is taken

over by Loews Cineplex

* 2001 closed

* Mid 2002 Village Theatres renovated and

Vitagraph

reopened cinemas 5-7. Cinemas 1-4 has

3133 N Lincoln

been gutted for retail space

1917-1930

* August 2003 closed

999 seats

* May 2005 Cinemas 5-7 became a live

* 1917 opened

theatre called Drury Lane Water Tower

* 1925 taken over by Lubliner & Trinz as

Warner Brothers takes over the Vitagraph

studio.

* 1930 Goldblatt's , which taken over the

Struve department store expanded closing

the Vitagraph



Vouge

3810 Broadway

1930-1961

1,642 seats

* 1915 opened as Chateau West

* 1926 Ascher Brothers lease runs out 2743 W Cermak

* 1930 Essaness takes it over and renames it ? 1940-? 1955

Vogue 719 seats

* 1958 burned Owner in 1950: Goodman and Harrision



Wabash West End

1838 S Wabash 121 N Cicero

? 1930-? 1940 1916-1952

Rex Theatres owned this 1,340-seat theatre. 1,139 seats

* 1916 opened by Lubliner & Trinz

* Late 1920's Lubliner & Trinz sells it

* Early 1930's Essaness Theatres buys it

* Early 1940's Essaness Theatres sells it

* 1952 closed





Chicago Page 54

West Englewood Will Rogers 734 W Madison

AKA: Ogden 5635 Belmont 1906-shortly after

1619 W 63rd st 1937-1987 383 seats

1920-? 1935 1,600 seats

2,065 seats * 1936 opened by Balaban and Katz Woodlawn

* 1920 by Ascher Brothers * 1968 became part of ABC Great States 1326 E 63rd st

* Late 1920's taken over by Goodman and * 1974 became part of Plitt Theatres 1937-1955

Harrision * 1986 taken over by Cineplex Odeon 670 seats

* Early 1930's taken over by Warner * 1987 demolished for a strip mall Owner in 1950: Gollos Managements

Brothers

* Late 1930's closed



Western

22nd St

? 1935

750 seats



White Palace

1609 S Kedzie

1910-1950

700 seats

Owners:

1935 Saperstein, A.

1940 others

1950 *a



Wicker Park

1541 N Milwaukee CTA Damen

? 1930-? 1955 Willard

540 seats 340 E 51st st CTA 51th St East

Coston Booking Circuit owned this theatre ? 1935-1952

in 1930 This Afro-American theatre had 750 seats

Owner in 1950: Essaness Theatres

Wiley

2151 N Lincoln Wilson Woods

? 1911-? 1930 2418 W Madison 54 W Randolph

* 1911 opened as Wiley 1918-1937 1917-1989

* 1939 renamed Little German 1,100 seats 1,126 seats

* 1941 renamed Lincoln Webster and Owner 1918-1925: Lubliner & Trinz * 1917 opened

closed. * Late 1930's taken over by Essaness

Windsor * 1970's attendance declined as action and

1225 N Clark horror movies are shown

1913-1961 * 1984 Essaness sells it

1,250 seats * 1986 sold to Cineplex Odeon, which

* 1913 opened attempted to clean it up.

* Early 1920's taken over by Lubliner & * January 1989 closed

Trinz * 1990 demolished

* Late 1920's taken over by Balaban and

Katz

* Early 1930's taken over by Balaban,H & E



Windsor Park

AKA: Ray

2638 E 75th st

1912-1935

* 1912 opened as Windsor Park

* 1935 renamed Ray

* 1950 closed



Wonderland



Chicago Page 55

World Playhouse ADULT

AKA: Studebaker, Fine Arts 2

410 S Michigan

? 1935-1973

500 seats

* 1885 the Studebaker building opened.

* 1917 the Studebaker theatre opened in

the build

* 1930's theatre renamed World Playhouse

* 1964 adult movies

* 1973 closed

* 1982 reopened as Fine Arts 2

* 1984 4 screens

* Late 1980 are taken over by Loew's

* 1998 Loews Cineplex takes it over

* 2000 closed



Ziegfeld

64 E Van Buren

1950-1958



606 theatres found in the City of Chicago









Chicago Page 56