Howard Theater
1621 W. Howard Street,
Chicago,
IL
60626
1621 W. Howard Street,
Chicago,
IL
60626
5 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 38 of 38 comments found
Here is an early postcard view
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.
It is always a shame to see a theatre demolished. But, it’s a good thing they took this one down. I was worried that the auditorium was going to fall over onto the elevated railway. The roof was torn off in a storm, and the walls had decayed to the point where you could see into the attic from the Howard Street railway station. Plus, people you wouldn’t want to meet (without weapons at least) were hanging around in there.
Did anyone notice the gallery link on the page Bryan Posted in february? There are some cool historical views, like one from the 60s and an original rendering showing what it would have looked like with its extensive stud lighting, now all removed, working, as well as its original marquee and domes (the two-dome style seems to have been very popular around 1917). Also shows the lobby, which I think is a shoe store now. Not sure if the decoration is still there. Does anyone know what was originally above the lobby? The original plans indicate empty space.
Took the train down to the Howard to see the first run of Apocalypse Now! What a memorable place to see that film. (The horror…)
Wow. It almost looks too clean. :–)
Here’s a recent view of the beautifully restored facade of the former Howard Theatre.
http://206.103.49.193/cta/htm/cta0176.htm Here is a photo from the el station showing the side of the Howard circa 1997
I’m trying not to weep. I had no idea the theatre was gone. I watched so many movies there as a child in the middle 60’s and 70’s. I can still remember the smell, even if it had passed it’s prime. It was such a huge part of my childhood. There was a malt shop just east of it. I used to see all the teenagers there when I was 6 or 7 years old and think how cool they were. I haven’t been back there in over 20 yrs.since I moved. How sad.
Tom Stranich
The theatres of my youth in Chicago are all gone! What a shame.
Phil H.
The Howard closed during or before 1976; some print reports in later years said that the city had shut it down over health code violations. By then the vertical sign and ornate marquee had been removed, replaced by a plain oblong marquee in shades of brown, very similar to the dark blue one in use on the Lake Shore at Broadway and Belmont at the time.
The new marquee was removed around 1978 or ‘79, after a plan was announced to convert the building into a mixed-use development called “The Howard,” probably inspired by the then-successful “The Main” in Evanston. The theater would have been restored under this plan, most likely as a music or stage venue. Apparently the financing did not work out and the project never got underway.
A late 50s view of Howard Street, showing the exterior of the Howard Theatre can be seen here. The photo was taken from the Howard Street “El” Station.
The Howard was converted to condos in 2000, with retail space on the first floor. Its fantastic facade, with the old theater name still boldly inscribed at the very top, has been restored.