Belpark Theatre
3231 N. Cicero Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60641
3231 N. Cicero Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60641
5 people
favorited this theater
The Belpark Theatre opened on March 12, 1927 as part of the Lubliner & Trinz circuit. It was located on Cicero Avenue near Belmont Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
This 2,000-plus seat theater was designed by E.P. Steinberg and once contained a 3/17 Barton theater organ. In spring of 1930, the Belpark Theatre was taken over by the Balaban & Katz chain, which operated it for the remainder of its career as a movie house.
The Belpark Theatre closed as a movie theater in the mid-1950’s and after periods of use as a warehouse and later, a banquet facility, the building today serves as a bingo hall.
Contributed by
Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 47 comments)
I beg to differ about the Elinor. I worked for the Chicago Dept of Human Services for many years in the emergency shelter program. We would only place people in need of temporary housing there as a last resort, because of the unsavory clientele and activities which took place there. The liquor store is a magnet and certainly can’t be compared to a restaurant which serves liquor.
I still live in the area (Jefferson Park), so I know what I’m talking about.
i don’t share those impressions of that area, having first moved there in 1981
liquor is liquor—restaurant served or store bought
Reread Broan’s comments above. ‘Nuff said.
If you are in the area, I encourage you to visit the Golden Tiara bingo hall. I think walking around inside will help you understand how it’s different from the Portage.
of course the BelPark’s different, with potential closeby parking too (Patio theatre doesn’t have that). a blown opportunity
A blown opportunity to spend several times as much for a few hundred more seats to fill, maybe (and remember, there are no seats in place). An opportunity to get foreclosed. Of course, is it even an opportunity if the owners of the Belpark had no interest in selling, and the operators of the Portage did not have funds to buy, but rent? Easy to play 20/20 hindsight, but I have actually been through the Belpark fairly recently. Don’t forget the Portage has Sears parking. It’s a good opportunity for the church, which should have better access to financing, and perhaps they’ll end up making the facility available for other events, assuming they’re able to make the deal happen.
sears parking lot 2-½ block east, not a convenient asset even if sears made it plainly known portage theatre parking was permitted
parking issue aside—it’s not that important to me personally—restoring the belpark yes was a blown theatrical opportunity
I am late to this discussion, and I haven’t read every comment. But here is my two cents: The Belpark has been positively serving the community as a bingo hall for many years. I really don’t know much about bingo. But it seems like people pay something to get in, play bingo and have a chance to win prize money, while at the same time socializing. That sounds like a good thing. I’d rather see this church take residence in a space that is currently vacant. In a city the size of Chicago there must be at least a few to choose from.
i’m glad when a religious organization takes over a former theatre, and can live with bingo activity doing similarly, because it means the building’s lease on life has been extended instead of it falling into disuse & vacancy. we’ve had far too many heartbreaking examples of that
what i say above goes double for former theatres which could be characterized as old movie palaces. personally i favor these alternate useages specifically for the distinct possibility at least a percentage can and will revert to film exhibition once again. that’s a goal quite compatible with this cinematreasures site, and why i’d point out a missed opportunity like the BelPark
I wonder if the lobby chandelier is original to the theater, or if it was added by one of the post-warehouse tenants.