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

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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

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Crescent Theater

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Films Courtesy of Westinghouse Electric 

     The Crescent Theater was located in the Logan Square Neighborhood at 2915 Milwaukee Avenue.  It first opened its doors in 1912.  It had one screen .  Its seating capacity was 700 seats.

     In the 1940’s, the theater name was changed to Nita.   It stayed  in business until the 1950’s.

     The theater building still stands.

Former Crescent Nita Theater Building

Former Crescent Nita Theater Building


Former Crescent Nita Theater Building

The Rose Theater

     

Round Up Theater Internet Photo

   The Rose Theater opened in 1914 in the Logan Square Neighborhood of Chicago at 2858-60 North Milwaukee Avenue.   Its seating capacity was 700.  It had one screen.   The architect was Ralph C. Harris.

    It went through several closures in the 1930’s.  In 1936, it reopened with  a new name, the New Dale Theater.  In 1949, the owners (Balaban and Katz) renamed the theater the Round Up.  They featured Westerns only.     The Round Up closed in the 1950’s.  Later in that decade, the building was used as a furniture store. 

     In 2001, the former lobby was used as a restaurant.  The auditorium was used for storage.  The building was demolished in June, 2009.

Former Site of Rose Theater

Same as above

Former Site of Rose Theater

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