| Movie Theatres |
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| ILLINOIS (page 1) |
| Midway Theatre Rockford, IL |
Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL |
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The Midway Theatre opened in 1918. It was designed in a Spanish Colonial style. A fire in the 1970s gutted the lobby but the auditorium is still intact. The Midway is now used for live performances. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.
The Chicago Theatre was called the "Wonder Theatre of the World" when it opened in 1921. It was designed by Rapp & Rapp at a cost of $4 million. The exterior features a mini Arc de Triomphe above the marquee. Both the arch and marquee are six stories tall. The interior makes reference to other Parisian architecture. In 1986, the theatre was saved from demolition and restored as a performing arts venue. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| Uptown Theatre Chicago, IL |
York Theatre Elmhurst, IL |
Rialto Square Theatre Joliet, IL |
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The Uptown Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp in a lush Spanish Baroque style. The theatre opened in 1925 and is the biggest free-standing theatre ever built. The main entrance is six stories high with a domed ceiling. The auditorium can seat over 4,000 people. The theatre closed in the 1980s. Restoration began in 2001 and the theatre is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The York Theatre was designed by Elmer F. Behrns in a Spanish style and opened in 1924. The interior and exterior were updated in 1938 by Roy B. Blass in the Art Moderne style. The marquee canopy contains 1,000 lightbulbs and 1,000 feet of neon. Although it was triplexed in 1982, the interior was mostly preserved. In 1991, the interior was returned to its original Spanish style and the Barton pipe organ was restored. In 1993 and 2004, more screens were added bringing the total to nine. The Theatre Historical Society of America is located on the second floor of the building. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. The Rialto Square Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp and opened in 1926 as a vaudeville space. The theatre still has its original Barton Grande Organ. It closed as a movie theater in the mid-1970s. It was then saved from demolition and restored in 1980 as a performing arts center. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. |
| Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL |
Patio Theatre Chicago, IL |
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The Arcada Theatre was designed by Elmer F. Behrns and opened in 1926 as a vaudeville theatre. It was remodeled and restored in the 1940s and 1960s. In 1973, the original organ was restored. In 1993, the Arcada was restored to its original appearance. In 2005, it became a performing arts center. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Patio Theatre opened in 1927. The atmospheric auditorium had twinkling stars and moving clouds on the ceiling. The theatre has been closed since 2001. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4. |
| Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL |
Coronado Theatre Rockford, IL |
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The Aragon Ballroom was never a theatre but I'm including it here for its movie palace style. The Aragon was built in 1926 at a cost of over $2 million. The atmospheric interior was meant to replicate a Spanish courtyard. Big bands and other entertainers played here from the 1920s-1940s. By the 1950s, attendance was declining and in the 1960s, it became a skating rink. Other uses followed: a forum for boxing and wrestling, a disco, a big band revival performances, and rock concerts. In the 1970s, the Aragon was renovated and became a concert hall for various live acts and private functions. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3.
The Coronado Theatre opened in 1927. It was designed by Frederick J. Klein in an atomspheric style. The interior features a lavish castle-like courtyard design and a Barton Organ. The theatre was used for movies and stage shows until the late 1960s. The Coronado closed in 1984 and underwent an $18 million renovation and reopened in 2001 as a performing arts center. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. |
| Oriental Theatre Chicago, IL |
New Regal Theatre Chicago, IL |
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The Oriental Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp and opened in 1926. The theatre closed in 1981 and remained closed until restoration in 1996. It reopaned as the Ford Center for the Performing Arts in 1998. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The New Regal Theatre was designed by John Eberson and opened as the Avalon Theatre in 1927. The atmospheric auditorium featured a star-filled sky and a huge, hanging oriental carpet. It closed in the late 1970s and became home to the Miracle Temple Church. In 1987, it was converted into a performing arts venue. At this time, it was renamed the New Regal Theater, in honor of Chicago's Regal Theater, which was demolished after a devastating fire in the early 1970s. The theatre closed again in 2002. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL |
Logan Theatre Chicago, IL |
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The Riviera Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp and opened in 1918. It closed in the mid-1980s and became a nightclub. It was later converted into a concert venue. For more, see this website.
The Logan Theatre opened in 1915 as the Paramount Theatre. It is now a four-screen multiplex. For more, see this website. |
| Music Box Theatre Chicago, IL |
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| The Music Box Theatre opened in 1929. By the 1970s, it was showing Spanish and Arabic language movies and eventually porn. It closed in 1977. It reopened in 1983 after being renovated. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| DuPage Theatre [gone] Lombard, IL |
Paramount Theatre Aurora, IL |
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The DuPage Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp in an atmospheric style. It opened in 1928 and was triplexed in the late 1980s. It closed in 2001 and was demolished in 2007. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
The Paramount Theatre was designed by Rapp & Rapp and opened in 1931. It closed in the mid-1970s. It reopened in 1978 as the Paramount Arts Centre after a $1.5 million restoration. In 2002, the name was changed back to the Paramount Theatre. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. |
| Pickwick Theatre Park Ridge, IL |
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| The Pickwick Theatre was built from 1928-1929. It was designed in a Streamline Moderne/Mayan style. The theatre is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ was restored in the 1960s. In 1990, three smaller screens were added to the rear of the building, avoiding compromising the theatre's original screen. Today, the Pickwick is used as a performing arts venue. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. |
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