Mercury Theatre

Jazz Age Chicago shows this as having once been named Esthena

The Mercury Theatre will be auctioned on March 8, 2005 by Inland Real Estate Auctions, Inc.

Also up for auction, as part of the same property, are the neighboring spaces housing Strega Nona restaurant and Cullen's Bar & Grill.

More information can be found at www.inlandgroup.com and www.inlandgroup.com/ireac/calendar_frame.htm

Interested bidders must inspect the property at bidders' seminars scheduled before the auction. For details call 630/990-5353.

Just north of the theatre and across the street is the James Blaine Elementary School, and I wanted to point out the coincidence, (which probably isn't coincidental at all).

You're right; it's not. The Blaine school, named for politician James G. Blaine opened in 1893. The Blaine stayed in operation until the opening of the Music Box (which was originally to be called the New Blaine) in 1928

Thank you, Brian. That's valuable information, as most accounts I've read have the Blaine closing around 1920 and don't mention the name connection to the Music Box.
Also, in a 2005 article on the Mercury, the Chicago Tribune misspelled the name as 'Blane'.

It's great to see Chicago reusing these smaller and long-forgotten neighborhood theatres.

From the Chicago Tribune, 8/14/28:

BOY,10, LOCKED IN THEATER, GIVES VICINITY THRILL

At 10 o'clock last night, Mrs. Mary Andrews, 1432 Irving Park boulevard, called the Sheffield avenue police and informed them that her 10 year old son Robert was missing. Sergt. John Deshong sent out a message instructing all policemen to look for Robert.
At midnight, Mrs. Andrews called again to report that Robert had not yet arrived. Several squads were especially assigned to the search.
At 11:45 a.m. an excited voice informed Sergt. Deshong that a woman was being murdered in the Blaine movie theater at 3743 Southport avenue. The squads hunting for Robert hastily rerouted to the theater, which they surrounded.
Loud screams were heard as they broke into the place. There was no murder. It was Robert yelling because he had awakened to find himself locked in.

That happened two weeks before the Chicago Tribune announced the "New Blaine" Theatre would be built nearby, which of course turned out to be the Music Box. Who would have imagined that both theatres would still co-exist in the 21st Century, and under different names?

The Mercury has had some extended run live shows as of late. The Buddy Holly Story, Ron Hawking's Sinatra Tribute, etc. (Urinetown I think was cancelled before it could open.)

That stretch of Southport has a quite active nightlife. There are taverns on either side of the Mercury. Take 5 and an Irish restaurant/tavern called Cullen's. The latter is actually kind of partially incorporated in/next to the theatre.
To serve the theatre patrons as I remember. They may have a management deal or are/were part owners of the Mercury.

Much like the old Drury Lane on Pearson was to former neighboring nightclub Tamborine, musicians from the Mercury would often play at the neighboring bars on some off nights.
The Buddy Holly Story guys had their own offshoot band doing originals & some covers at Blue Bayou across the street. A buddy of mine ran karaoke at Blue Bayou, and they'd even show up for that after shows or gigs.

Here's one of my pictures of the Mercury from a year or two ago:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruce_theatres/2462092851/