Site of Former Rogers Park Hospital

Site of Former Rogers Park Hospital

Photo of Rogers Park Hospital

Sketch of Second Hospital

     In 1927, Rogers Park Hospital opened at 6970 N. Clark Street in Chicago. The president of the new hospital was Dr. Francis Patrick Machler.  The hospital was a replacement of a two story structure built in 1921 also by Dr. Francis Patrick Machler.

     Dr. Machler lived in Evanston, Il.  He was a Rogers Park physician and surgeon for 35 years ( his office was at 7001 N. Clark),  a drummer boy in the Spanish American War, a U.S. Army Captain in World War 1, and a veteran leader. He died in 1950 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

     The new hospital was six stories high.  There was a solarium on the top floor.  The building was constructed with reinforced concrete.  The exterior was brick and terra cotta.  Construction costs were $402,000. Architect was Dwight Wallace.

     Bed capacity was 102.  There were two operating rooms.  There was one delivery room.  There was X-Ray capability.

     In June 1930, the hospital was sold by Dr. Francis Patrick Machler and Thomas Sullivan and Company to the Rogers Park Community Hospital Association.  The sale price was $400,000.  Judge Harry Olson was the new chairman of the board.  Dr. Nappe was the New President.  The hospital name was changed to Rogers Park Community Hospital.

Logan Square Theater

Logan Square Theater Internet Photo

Demolition of the Mars Theater. Internet Theater

     The Logan Square Theater was located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago at 2556 N. Milwaukee Avenue.  It opened in 1913 .  The architect was Horatio R. Wilson.   When it opened, it was a vaudeville house.

     It was acquired by the Lubliner and Trinz Chain and was converted to a movie venue.  It had one screen and a seating capacity of approximately 1300 seats.

     In 1934, after remodeling, it was renamed the Rio Theater.  In 1949, it was renamed again the Mars Theater.  The theater was demolished in 1968.

Diversey Theater

Old Diversey Theater Building

    The Weber Theater was located at 3018 West Diversey Avenue in Chicago.   It opened in 1912.  It was built by W.J.Weber.  It had one screen.   It was renamed the Diversey in 1914.    It closed around 1915.

Old Diversey Theater Building

Same as above


Same as above

Please note all photos and text are copyrighted

Music Box Theater

The Music Box Theater is a historic theater located in Chicago at 3733 North Southport Avenue. It opened in August of 1929.  It had a single screen.  It had a seating capacity of 800.  The construction costs were $110,000.  The complete building included nine store fronts and 32 apartments.   The cost of the entire building cost $260,000.  The architect was Louis A. Simon.  The theater was operated by Lasker and Sons.  Style was atmospheric.  The auditorium ceiling was dark blue cove lit with twinkling stars and moving clouds.  There is plaster ornamentation of the walls of the auditorium.  There are round towers, faux marble Lothian and ogee arched organ chambers reminiscent of the walls surrounding an Italian courtyard.

Between 1977 and 1983, the theater was used for Spanish Language films, Arabic films and pornographic films.

The Music Box was closed until 1983.  Three business men formed the Music Box Theater Corporation.   They were Robert Chaney, Christopher Carlo and Stan Hightower.    They restored the building and reopened it.   The new format was double feature revival and repertory films.  Foreign films, cult films and independent films were added.

     In 1991, a 100 seat movie auditorium was built in an existing storefront adjacent to the lobby.  It was remodeled in 2013.  A digital projector and new audio system were installed.  The auditorium acoustics were improved. New seats were installed

     In 2015, a bar and a lounge were added in the storefront directly to the north of the original building.

Music Box Theater

Music Box Theater


Music Box Theater

Music Box Theater

Music Box Theater

Music Box Theater


Music Box Theater

Diversey Theater 

Diverse Theater Chicago Internet PhotoA

     The Diversey Theater opened in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago at 2828 N. N. Clark Street.  The opening date was July 30, 1925.  The theater architect was Edward Eichenbaum.  Style was Spanish Baroque.

     In 1930, the interior of the theater was remodeled in the art deco style.  The name of the Diversey was changed to the Century.

     At various times, the theater was managed by Balaban and Katz, Lubliner and Trinz, Plitt Theaters, and Publix Theater Corporation.

     In 1973, the theater was closed for a major remodel.  The interior was gutted.  It was converted to a multilevel retail shopping center. It was called the Century Shopping Center.  There was no longer a movie venue.

     In 2000, the Century entered in an agreement with the Landmark Movie Group.   The chain built seven movie auditoriums in the upper levels of the facility.  The style of these auditoriums was now art deco.

     While the theater appears to be doing a brisk business, the retail space is suffering.  There are many empty stores.

     It was recently reported that Amazon is attempting to acquire Landmark Theaters from Wagner/Cuban Co. (Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner). Local theaters of this chain include Landmark Renaissance Place Highland Park and the Landmark Century Center in Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago.  Landmark Theaters are known for art house fair.

Century Shopping Center and Theater

Century Shopping Center and Theater

Century Shopping Center and Theater

Century Shopping Center and Theater

Same as above

Please note all photos and text are copyrighted