Marbro Theatre
4110 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60624
4110 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60624
21 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 268 comments found
I remember all white, too, Bobby. It was a fabulous view from my window.
What a beauty!!! Would love to see a color photo at night. I too loved living in the area. So exciting. I read that the Marbro had colored bulbs on the top of the marquee (ala Chicago Theatre) when it was first installed, but were changed to all white in the 1950’s due to expenses. Yet this photo in 1943 looks like they were all white. I remember them white and flashing in 1955. How about you amoswald? Thanks Tinseltoes for posting.
Beautiful. This was the view to the right of our apartment on Madison Street. I loved living on Madison!
The Marboro’s modernized marquee was featured on the cover of this trade journal’s Modern Theatre section in January, 1943: boxofficemagazine
I am trying to find old maps of the Madison Crawford business district. Used to have a link but it is not working. If you know of any, please advise.
amoswald ~ have a question for you about the area but not the Theater. I don’t want to break posting rules. I would appreciate it if you would contact me at . Thanks! Michelle
This opened on May 28th, 1927. It’s grand opening ad is in the photo section for this theatre.
I did not know about the lawsuit but I do remember seeing a lot of second run and revival films at the Byrd when I was a kid.
Thanks, I will try it. I am sorry I never ate in your wonderful restaurant. I loved the picture. If my mother knew about it, I am sure we would have. She loved good food. Did you know the owners of the Byrd Theater sued Balaban & Katz Co. owners of the Marbro & State theaters on Madison St. for preventing the Byrd booking first-run quality films in 1955. I don’t know how it ended. But we always went to the Byrd for horror films and films that we missed at the Marbro or State.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002065858388 Try sending a friend request so you can be added.
Did you try searching on Austin neighborhood and sending a request to join the group?
Thank you. I got the St. Mel’s, but I could not get the Austin Neighborhood. I tried several times.
Thanks!
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/51222342741/ St. Mel’s
https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100002065858388 Austin Neighborhood.
I too am trying to find the St. Mels search. I did .see a picture in the local paper achives dated 1940’s where a large group of St Mels students marching down Madison St. towards the Marbro Theater for graduation exercises. Also found out Marks Bros. Inc was not bought out by Balaban & Katz Inc in the 1930’s, rather both corporations were bought out by Paramount-Publix and both were subsidies of the giant film studio looking to buy theaters to show their films. The Marks Bros. name was eventually dropped.
Amoswald – 2 days on FB … St. Mels – what is exact name to search?
To enjoy a photo gallery of magnificient theaters, go to: chicagotribune.com/chicagotheaters
amoswald – Hello, new here! My aunts, The Three Burke Sisters sang at the Marbro, as well as other Chicago theaters. In the late 1930’s they ended their careers, and Rita Burke married a football coach from St. Mels! I just got a facebook acct., I will check out their page. Thanks for the info.
Good question, Bobby. Neon is very expensive. We had a neon sign in front of our family restaurant. It was so amazing to look down from our apartment on our name in lights. What a great time.
I had to walk two blocks to see what they were putting on the sign on Thursday nights. Couldn’t wait ‘til Friday when I walked by. You had it easy. By the middle 50’s, there weren’t any bulbs on the vertical sign. Pink neon only and elevator trucks were used to re-gas the tubes. I think maybe there were bulbs at one time when they first updated the sign, because you could see the holes were the bulbs used to be. I wonder what year they did the neon.
I lived on Madison one half block west on the south side of the street. I’d open the window to check the marquee to see what movies were playing. You can’t beat that memory.
I am amazed by the size of the upright sign. I wonder what it took to change the blubs on it?
If any of you are on FB, there are photos and memories of the Marbro and other B&K theaters posted on the Austin neighborhood group and the St. Mel’s group.
I have added a photo of the Marbro, which is actually a postcard view of the theatre from 1929. It shows a little more of West Madison Street than most of the other early pictures I’ve seen.
Great photo..Would love to see same photo in late 40’s & 50’s same view new signage. Thanks.