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 20 comments)
A crazy place when I was a kid. My Mom would not let us go there. She said they let the kids run wild and the place had rats. She relented when they had the Mummy appear in person. It was mayhem and the kids tried to tear the bandages off the poor guy who was dressed up as a Mummy. They always had the best horror movies. But I saw Rodan and the Vincent Price movies at the Marbro.
The Alex was wild and as far as rats, I think some of them paid admission and sat in the seats! Didn’t go there too often. I liked the Crawford around the corner and of course the Marbro & Paradise. Isn’t it strange, the Alex was the last movie theater to survive in an area that had so many.
Reinstate notification status.
Really weird, Bobby. Maybe it was cheap to operate. I don’t remember any ushers. I am working on a short story that features the kid mayhem at the Alex and when it is finished I will be happy to share with you.
Nice to hear from you Trolleyguy. I read somewhere where Rahm Emanuel has a soft spot for light rail. If he becomes mayor, I think West Madison St. doesn’t have a chance, but maybe, just maybe, there would be hope to restore the trolley on State St. going down to Soldier Field and Navy Pier and then west to the train stations in the west loop. Wouldn’t that make a great loop? I think the ridership would be there during the day and even at night when the theaters let out. They could travel down Randolph to the train stations and then back on Washington to State St. Funding might be a problem however..
At least Chicago might have a chance with light rail. Here in Wisconsin, our new governor turned down federal money for high-speed rail and he is also an opponent of light rail as well.
Not sure how he feels about movie theaters, tho.
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.