Ark Theater

Chicago, IL

858 E. 63rd Street

, Chicago, IL 60637 United States

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Unknown

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	750
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Grossman & Proskauer

Opened in 1912, the Drexel was located in the Woodlawn neighborhood, on 63rd Street at the intersection of Drexel Avenue. It sat near the larger Woodlawn Theatre, which opened a few years after the Drexel.

During the 20s, the theater was part of the Fecher & Newman circuit, which included other South Side theaters such as the Lexington, the Kimbark and the Harvard.

The Drexel was renamed the Ark Theatre by the 40s when it was operated as the flagship of the Gollos Brothers chain, and continued to operate at least through the 1960s. The theater has since been torn down.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

YOUR COMMENTS

In the '50s & '60s, the Crown Propeller Lounge was located on the site of the old Drexel Theater.

posted by Mike Tuggle on Jan 27, 2005 at 9:49am

The Ark theatre (aka Drexel) was in operation at least through May 1959. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings, Friday April 19,1957: ARK -LOW PRICES ADULTS .25 CHILDREN .10.(No films are listed.) From the Sun Times Sunday, May 10, 1959: ARK -"THE VIKINGS" "BOUNTY HUNTER" "FLAMING FRONTIER".

posted by KenC on Mar 30, 2006 at 7:53pm

Architects were Grossman & Proskauer

posted by BWChicago on Jun 11, 2006 at 5:37am

The Ark theatre was open at least through mid February 1965. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings on Thursday Feb. 11,1965: ARK 858 E. 63rd- Op. 1:30 "FORT DOBBS" "MADEMOISELLE STRIPTEASE" "NEVER PUT IT IN WRITING".

posted by KenC on Oct 17, 2006 at 4:28pm

Does anyone know where the Ark name comes from for this theatre? It is a rather strange name for a theatre.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Dec 3, 2006 at 10:37am

Just a wild guess, Bryan: Kimbark Ave. was (is) located 1300 east.The Kimbark theatre, near 63rd and Kimbark, was open at least through mid 1960. The Kim theatre was at 62nd- Halsted. Bark would seem to be a silly name for a theatre. Perhaps new owners decided on the name Ark, which was about 4 blocks from Kimbark Ave.

posted by KenC on Dec 3, 2006 at 1:52pm

Thanks Ken for your thoughts on the name.

posted by Bryan Krefft on Dec 4, 2006 at 2:04pm

In the 1940's this was the nastiest little show ever, your feet would always stick to the floor.

posted by ellde on Aug 10, 2007 at 11:34pm

A couple of interior photos of the recently remodeled Ark Theatre were published in the May 25, 1940, issue of Boxoffice Magazine. The new Art Moderne design had been done by architect Erwin G. Fredrick, in association with interior designer Hans Teichert.

posted by Joe Vogel on Mar 11, 2009 at 10:43pm

I'm looking for a possible link with any exterior pictures of the Trianon Ballroom also on 63rd St.
All that seems to ever come up is postcards of the same interior shots.
Exterior shots of the Trianon have proved quite elusive. Thanks.

posted by David Zornig on Apr 19, 2009 at 8:20am

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