Adams Theatre
20 E. Adams Street,
Chicago,
IL
60603
20 E. Adams Street,
Chicago,
IL
60603
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The Adams Theatre, one of the smaller Loop theatres. It seated just 291, and opened in June 1921. It stood on Adams Street between State Street and Wabash Street. A 2 manual Robert Morton organ was installed in 1921
Initially operated by Vista Amusement Enterprises, it had been showing newsreels and shorts and children friendly fare since the late-1920’s.
It was divided into three small retail stores by 1932. The originally four-story building the Adams Theatre was constructed within originally dates back to 1888. It is still standing, though it has lost its upper two stories and just two of the three retail spaces are still in operation, a nail salon and a fast-food restaurant.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
From the April 22, 1929 Chicago Tribune:
TWO GUNMAN FIRE THEATER
Menace Janitor
Start Blaze in Organ
Two armed men yesterday set fire to the Adams theater, 18 East Adams street, the owners of which have been engaged in a controversy with the Chicago Federation of Musicians. Firemen checked the flames and held the damage to approximately $15,000.
If if am right this theatre is closer to Michigan Ave then State
18 East Adams is between Wabash Ave and Michigan Ave.
From the Chicago Tribune, January 29, 1921
Building Permits
18-20 East Adams street: four story brick fireproof motion picture theater; Adams Theater company, owner; Ohrenstein & Hild, archs…$50,000
From the Chicago Tribune, March 30, 1933
Adams Street Leases
Albert H. Wetten & Co. report having leased two of the three available stores in the old Adams theater building, 18-22 East Adams street, now extensively remodeled. The store at No. 18 has been rented by the Mrs. Stevens Candy company. This is her fourteenth store. The space at No. 22 has been leased by Hyland’s millinery store, which also operates a store in Evanston.
Both leases call for a minimum guaranteed rental plus a percentage of gross sales. The brokers in yesterday’s transactions hint that the remaining store may be used for a restaurant where beer will be sold. The old cinema has been removed.