Alex Theater
3828 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60624
3828 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60624
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This theater was originally known as the Hamlin Theater and was located close to Garfield Park on Madison Street at Hamlin Boulevard in the West Garfield Park neighborhood. It opened in 1910 as a vaudeville house with 1,200 seats. It later turned to movies as the primary entertainment. It was closed in 1934.
In 1938, the theater was remodeled in an Art Moderne style and also received a new name, the Alex Theater. It continued to operate until closure in 1976.
A parking lot is on the site of the former Alex Theater.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
The only reason the governor turned down the grant, I believe, is the state would have to match it and of course operate the system when it got started. And we all know about low ridership etc. I think Mayor Daley floated the idea a few years ago and was voted down. They went for express buses instead (cheaper and less invasive). Nothing like tracks I say! Where you ever in the Ventian Theater in Racine? I have seen parts of it in Fred’s basement Bijou.
I loved taking the North Shore Line to Milwaukee and visiting all the movie palaces there and restaurants.
My brother and I walked or took a bus (can’t recall) to the Alex on countless Saturdays. Saw WAR OF THE WORLDS and every other late-50s sci-fi film there. The Marbro was another favorite.
Don’t remember any rats.
Never saw rats at the Marbro! But had quite a few at the Alex. If the Marbro did have rats, they must have been dressed in their finery to be sure!!
My uncle bought the Hamlin and changed it to the Alex in 1938. He was a true American success story. Finding work at a local pharmacy at 9 years old, he saved enough money to buy the theatre at 20 years old! I had the opportunity to work during the summers behind the candy counter during the mid 60s. I was “paid” with all the popcorn and candy I could eat. When it was slow, I would watch the movie that was playing. It was a great experience. Back in the day, the concession stand had a vat of pickles, hot dogs, real butter on the popcorn and old time candy bars like Chunky.
a 1946 Chicago newspaper theatre listing contains an ad for the ALEX THEATRE, showing a line there that reads:
“WE MAKE OUR OWN POWER!”
somebody have an idea just what this means? no other theatre in that local movie listing makes such claim
don’t think it was solar in those days.
even today no movie theatre does,
though would you patronize a theatre that advertised: “Our Digital Projectors are Windmill powered!”
I searched for that phrase. It’s all about context. Illinois had rapidly dwindling coal supplies at the beginning of May 1946 due to a coal strike, and theaters could operate only from 2-6pm; all commerce & industry was affected. This wasn’t good business generally, so most shut their doors until the rule was changed May 10 to normal hours Fri-Sun and closed otherwise. The strike was resolved and things went back to normal minus display and ornamental lights on May 11. The theaters whose ads said “we make our own power” “our own electric power” “Open under our own power from today onwards” “we have our own power plant” had generators, or generated their own power from oil or incinerators.
i see now. so theatre’s like the ALEX at that critical time could stay upon longer hours but only if they contributed to their power needs with their own on-site generators
so many theatres in the same newspaper ad i referenced for the ALEX post above specify long hours – either 10:00 a.m. or 1:30 pm continuous shows to midnight
my kind of showtimes
There are solar powered theaters in the states now. http://www.thepalmtheatre.com/solar.html And theaters in Livermore. I am sure there are more.