Brighton Theatre
4223 S. Archer Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60632
4223 S. Archer Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60632
12 people
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Opened as the Brighton Park in 1919, this theater was built for the Schoenstadt circuit by the firm of Levy & Klein, whose other Chicago theaters include the North Side’s Granada and Diversey (later the Century) Theatres. It was named for the neighborhood it was located in and stood on Archer Avenue near Sacramento Avenue.
The Brighton Park Theatre, which did not have a stage and was built specifically for movies, also contained a 2/6 Kimball organ.
The theater was known as the Brighton after the ‘Park’ portion of its name was dropped during the 50s.
After a long life as a popular neighborhood house, it closed its doors in 1991, and in September 2003, was torn down.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 86 comments)
DOSE ANY ONE KNOW WHAT KIND OF COMPANY CRANE WAS OR WHAT THEY MANUFACTURED? ALSO WHY DID THEY CLOSE DOWN.
The Crane Company made plumbing supplies and fixtures. I do not know why Crane closed down, but I would guess it was closely connected with the decline of the Brighton Park neighborhood and the decline of manufacturing all over the south side. When the jobs for working folks left, so did those folks and with them the great neighborhoods I remember. In 1960 the population of Chicago was 3.6 million. Today it is 2.8 million.
I have nice photos of Crane on Kedzie. A friend gave me some. One with the old clock tower and one the new which is the one I remember. A lot of people worked there and once in awhile I meet an oldster who worked there. One told me they used to stock the pond in the back with fish so you can fish at lunch time! Neil
The name of the bowling alley at Archer & Kedzie was the Miami Bowl.
No, Miami Bowl was on Archer and PULASKI. Actually, just a block off Pulaski.
Does anyone know why they torn this theatre down?
This theatre was built as a movie house.
Just an FYI – several people have written me asking for a piece of the facade, but never wrote back with their address. If anyone wants a piece, all I’m asking is enough to cover shipping. Not looking to make any profit. I’d just love for other fans who cherished this theater to be able to have a piece of it to remember it by.
0123456789, it as closed because of a major demographic shift (from Polish/Lithuanian to heavily Hispanic)as the demographic shift brought in people who didn’t watch movies that much, plus it brought in tons of gang bangers. It’s now a crime ridden neighborhood (Brighton Park) and home values have plummeted precipitously there. Sad.
The bowling alley on Archer & Kedzie was called Archer-Kedzie Bowl. Clever. Between White Castle & Robert Hall.