The Congress Theater is located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago at 2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue.  It was designed by Fridstein and Company for the theater operators Lubliner and Trinz.  It opened in 1926.  It had one screen.  Its capacity was 2,904 seats,

The theater featured an ornate interior and exterior.    Style was a combination of classical revival and Italian Renaissance.   The ampitheater featured a large dome.    The theater block had 17 retail stores and 56 apartments.

In 1929, the Congress became a part of the Balaban and Katz Chain.   Later it was managed by Publix Theaters.  In the 1970’s, it was renamed Teatro Azteca.  It featured Spanish language films.   Movies continued to be shown until the 1980’s.  In the 1990’s, the theater hosted live Latin acts and boxing matches.

More recently, the Congress operated as a 3,500  capacity live music venue.  It was closed in 2013 due to numerous safety violations.

     In 2014, Eddie Carranza sold the Congress Theater and Building to a Chicago developer Michael Moyer.  Moyer is the chief executive of New Congress, L.L.C.  He is a real estate investor and developer primarily In the Chicago area.  His New Congress, L.L.C. was established for the purpose of redeveloping and managing the Congress Theater as a mixed use venue.  He has assembled $65 million dollars for this project.   This renovation is scheduled to be completed by 2019.

     In 2017, the Congress Theater was listed in the National Register of Historic Spaces.

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The Logan Theater is located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago at 2646 North Milwaukee Avenue.  It opened as the Paramount Theater in 1915.  It was part of  the Lubliner and Trinz Circuit.     The architect was Walter W. Ahlschlager.   Seating capacity was 988.

     In 1929, ownership was taken over by the Essaness Chain.    The theater was renamed the Logan.

     Later,  the theater was converted to 4 screens and was independently run. It exhibited second run features.  

     The Logan was closed in 2011 for renovations.  It reopened in 2012.   The improvements included: new seating for 595; new sound system; new screens and digital projectors; art deco details.   Theater now features mid run movies and independent features.  It participates in local festivals.

 

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     The Patio Theater is located in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago at the corner of Irving Park Rd. and Austin Avenue.   Its address is 6008 West Irving Park road.

    The theater opened on January 1, 1927.   Its architect was Rudolph Wolff.   Its style is atmospheric and Spanish Colonial.   The ceiling of the theater had twinkling stars and drifting clouds in a night sky.  The Patio featured a Barton Pipe Organ which was used during silent  films.   There was one screen.   Capacity was 1,500 seats.

     Due to mechanical and licensing issues, the theater closed in 2001.  It underwent renovations in 2010.   It reopened in 2011.  A 2K projector was installed in 2012.    It switched to a rental facility in 2013.  The Northwest Chicago Film Society was a tenant until 2014.   The Patio closed early in 2014 and reopened later  in the same year.     It closed and reopened in 2016.

     In 2015, the Kouvalis family sold the  Patio to Eddie Carranza.   In 2016, Dennis  Wolkowicz was named general manager.  He started a Tuesday nite revival series in addition to an irregular schedule of indie screenings and free community shows.

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The Portage Theater is located near six corners on the northwest side of Chicago.  It opened on December, 1920.  It was first called the Potage Park Theater.

It was built for the Ascher Brothers chain.  The architects were Mark Kalischer and Henry Newhouse.  It was built exclusively as a movie house.  It had one movie screen.  Its capacity was 1,938 seats.

The auditorium had a megaphone shape.  The theater design was Beaux Arts opera house.

In 1940, the Portage was purchased by the Balaban and Katz Chain.  There was renovation of the marquee, lobby, and foyer into an art deco motif.  It remained in operation for years.  In the 1960’s, it began to show Second run movies.

In the 1980’s, it was again renovated.  The movie auditorium was split in two by a wall. Over the years, the Portage was  also managed by ABC Theaters and M & R Theaters.

The Portage was closed between 20001 and 2006.  It reopened in 2006 after another renovation.  The auditorium was reconverted to a single screen.   Seating capacity was 1300 seats.  It exhibited both silent and classic sound films.

The Portage Theater has been home of the Silent Film Society of Chicago and the northwest Chicago Film Society.  It has been a participant in the Chicago Polish Film Festival.

 

In March, 2016,  Eddie Carranza sold the Portage Theater, the eight storefronts in the theater building and 34 apartments for 2.5 million dollars to BCL Multifamily LLC (part of private equity firm Barnett Capital , LTD).

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     The Gateway Theater is located at 5216 West Lawrence in Chicago in the Jefferson Park neighborhood..

     It opened in June, 1930 for the Balaban and Katz Chain.  Architects were Rapp and Rapp.  It was an elaborate movie auditorium.  There were classical Roman flourishes.   Ceiling was dark blue with twinkling stars ( on a recent visit by the author, there was only one twinkling light).   There were statuaries and vines on the side walls.  It’s capacity was 2092 seats.  It was built to exhibit movies.

     It operated through the 1970’s.  It was later managed by the Plitt Chain and Publix Theaters.

     In the mid 1980’s,  the theater was sold by Plitt to the Copernicus Foundation ( a Polish American Society).  The interior of the Gateway was extensively renovated.   A clock tower called the Solidarity Tower was added.

     The theater hosts community gatherings and live concerts.  In the past, special movie screenings were done.  However, this practice has ceased.

The Pickwick Theater is located in Park Ridge, Illinois at 5 S. Prospect Avenue.  It opened in 1928.  It operated as a movie and a vaudeville venue.  It had one screen and a seating capacity of 1476 seats.  The architects were Roscoe Harold Zook, William F. Mc Caughey, and Alfonso Iannelli.  The building style is art deco.  There is a distinguished marquee and a 100 foot tower.  The theater auditorium was built to resemble an Aztec or Mayan temple.

In 1975, the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Seating capacity was reduced by 200 in 1968; by 400 in 2012.

In 1990, 3 smaller auditoriums and screens were added to the rear of the theater.

In 2007, the Bog Theater Company presented live theatrical shows at the Pickwick.

In 2012, there was a major 1.2 million dollar renovation at the Pickwick.   Included in the project were:  a new roof; mechanical  improvements; exterior renovations; restoration of the original auditorium to its art deco style.

In 2017, owner Dino Vlahakis added a small 39 seat theater to the rear of the second floor.

     The Valencia Theater was located in Evanston, Illinois at 1580 Sherman Avenue.  It was originally known as the Evanston Theater.

     It was constructed in 1911.  The architect was John E.O. Pridmore.  It opened as a vaudeville venue but was later converted to a movie theater with one screen.

     In 1925, it was renamed the New Evanston Theater.

     It underwent a complete renovation in 1932. Seating capacity was increased to 950.  Its style was changed to art deco. It was renamed the Valencia.

     Shortly after this, the theater was acquired by the Balaban and Katz Chain.  Later, it was managed by the B and K successors  ABC and Plitt.

     The theater closed in 1975.  The building was demolished in the 1980’s.  It was replaced by an 18 story building.  This is the world headquarters of Rotary International.

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