Chopin Theatre

It looks to me like it was originally known as the Harding. Despite the fact that there was another Harding on Milwaukee. It apparently was not named Chopin until about 1940.

This is a recent photo of the Chopin Theater.

(....at the risk of sounding like I'm plugging this show....)

TONY CLIFTON live (after a fashion) now at the CHOPIN!

What makes this particularly interesting is who T.C. really is - Mr. Bob Zmuda, who some may be aware hails from the Humboldt Park neighborhood here originally himself.

So I can't help but wonder if Bob is getting a special kick out of playing the CHOPIN of all places, where he probably saw flicks at (when it was last a cinema in the '50s) when he was a kid (I believe he's old enough).

And I'll close by stating I think his Clifton shtick is am absolute scream and I'll be seeing it. Even if this is interpreted as a plug no-one should mind greatly because all the ticket proceeds go to the charity COMIC RELIEF, which Bob runs.

Here's a picture of the Chopin from yesterday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/3783503190/

I think it is unlikely that this theater was ever called the Harding; the big Harding Theater (operated by B&K) just a few blocks away on Milwaukee opened in 1925 and was demolished in 1963. In addition there was a Harding Theater on E. 55th Street in Chicago that apparently operated from about 1918.