Crystal Theater
2701 W. North Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
2701 W. North Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
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This large neighborhood theater, seating nearly 1900, was built originally for the Lynch circuit in 1917. It later was operated by Balaban & Katz.
It was located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on North Avenue between Fairfield and Washtenaw Avenues. The theater closed in the mid-60s and was razed soon after closing.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
The CRYSTAL’d have Saturday a.m. kiddie shows in the early ‘60s, for
which free passes sometimes were distributed around my grammar school (7 FACES OF DR. LAO for example). Unique was that the theatre’s outside movie poster displays were NOT glass-encased (just tacked-up at all times); many budding film poster collections were begun here as a result of this. They gave up the ghost around 1965 and quick demolition without the usual conversion or darkened aftermath (which stunned me a little then).
A Barton theater organ was installed in the Crystal Theater in 1920. Note: Dividend manual.
I’m not so sure it was a Barton installed. I own Kimball chests labeled Lynch Th. North Ave. unless there was another lynch theatre on North Ave. I believe a Kimball organ was installed (the chests are for a 8 rank organ)Greg S.
I would go to the show almost every Saturday for showtime with my siter and brother and friends. for only a quarter addmission. I lived on Rockwell right of North Ave from thirteen years, attended Von Humboldt Grade School. I watched Disney films and all the Godzilla, Rodan, Attack of the Killer Schrews and many many more. I saw the High and the Mighty with John Wayne….North to Alaska…there with my MOM. We used to attend The Record Hop Dances in the Crystal Ballroom in the same building. You could go early for cartoons and a raffle drawings on Saturday Mornings. Would love to hear from anyone who lived near this classic Theatre. or in the Humboldt Park Neighborhood..write me at or contact Susan Besaw on Face Book..hope to hear from you !!!!