Davis Theater
4614 N. Lincoln Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60625
4614 N. Lincoln Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60625
13 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 37 comments
Tom Fencl, owner of the Davis has died of lung cancer. A nice article about his work with the theatre can be found here: https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/04/08/tom-fencl-beloved-owner-of-davis-theater-dies-after-battle-with-lung-cancer/
November 20, 2018 article with older photos. I’ll post the photos with credit as well, in case the link goes dead.
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/20/18103536/davis-theater-historic-art-deco-landmark-anniversary
Below is a link to the Facebook page for Right Way Signs of Chicago. There are 11 photos of new interior signage they created for the theater aisle designations and the Carbon Arc Bar & Board.
https://www.facebook.com/RightWaySigns/posts/1896746577063732
I didn’t realize they had opened up the front of the auditorium until viewing RickB’s article. It looks like they did a fantastic job.
My only nitpick is the smaller auditoriums in back. I never liked the look of a split vintage auditorium when they were all twinned back in the day, and I still don’t today. If it were my project I think I would have fitted out the back cinemas with drop ceilings and modern wall coverings.
But that shouldn’t be taken as negative commentary. It looks like they did an amazing renovation.
Currently seats 570 – one 300-seat, two 135-seats.
This theatre now has THREE auditoriums.
Link to a recent article about the Davis Theatre: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150623/lincoln-square/davis-set-for-4m-upgrade-adding-restaurant-mod-vintage-touches
Reopening tomorrow (12/15) with Rogue One. Long story with plenty of pictures here.
August 29th, 1930 grand opening ad for the Byrd, Davis and the Lamar in Oak Park theatres in the photo section.
November 6th, 1918 grand opening ad in the photo section.
Link with photos of the progress of the renovations.
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160907/lincoln-square/davis-theater-taking-shape-see-progress-meet-carbon-arcs-chef
Neat update.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160115/lincoln-square/davis-theater-restaurant-has-name-what-is-it-what-does-it-mean
http://www.kennedy-mann.com/davis-theater/
Closing for upcoming remodeling, reopening later in the year.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160107/lincoln-square/catch-one-last-show-at-davis-closing-this-weekend-reopening-summer?utm_source=Lincoln+Square+%26+Ravenswood&utm_campaign=6d744e4fc6-Mailchimp-CHI&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c4b440c1ea-6d744e4fc6-175160953
Original interior details in photos in below link.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151109/lincoln-square/davis-renovation-starts-get-peek-at-grandeur-hidden-for-decades
Opened November 6, 1918. Report from Exhibitor’s Herald in Photos section.
link
FYI. Makeover coming. Copy & paste to view.
http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150623/lincoln-square/davis-set-for-4m-upgrade-adding-restaurant-mod-vintage-touches
I lived near the Davis Theatre for 25 years ( actually, I lived in the same building where the old Bertha Theatre was located, just north of the Davis on Lincoln.) I don’t remember ever seeing a movie there, but I did take piano lessons at the Herrstrom School of Music and Dance, located in the same building on the second floor. Mrs Herrstrom was a very nice lady and a good teacher. Because my family did not own a piano, I had to practice my lessons on one of three “practice pianos” at the school. Of course I didn’t practice as much as Mrs Herrstrom wanted me to, but still I spent many hours in the Davis Building during the 1960’s.
Noticing the Gum on the floor reminds me when we would scrape Gum from the outside entrance into National Hills Theatre.Of Course, that was in 1974 when Theatres gave a dang.
The Davis Theatre wasn’t exactly in my neighborhood (I’m from the suburbs) but when a Fred Astaire retrospective was booked there I made the pilgrimage in the early 1980s. I was there one time more, both times before the theatre was split up. It was nice, had good sight lines and sound, and was very large-sized. Nice lobby.
I worked for the company that distributed Caligula and we couldn’t get anyone in Chicago to play it. Then a guy named Nick DeLuca came through with the Davis. Nick was a pleasure and we had a good run there.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/dgnquy
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I was only in the Davis a few times in the late `80’s. “Look Who’s Talking” is all I remember though. Maybe “976-Evil” too. I love that they’ve maintained their huge vertical signage.
I wish them continued success.