Congress Theater
2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
12 people
favorited this theater
A mix of architectural styles (including Adam and Italian Baroque), this theater has an elaborate large domed auditorium and is covered with decorations in stone, terra-cotta, and plaster. It remains remarkably intact, down to the original light fixtures and marble wainscoting.
The Congress was built for the Lubliner & Trinz chain. On its opening day, September 5, 1926, there were parades, band concerts, and a bathing beauty contest. The first movie shown at the Congress was “Rolling Home”, a Reginald Denny comedy, as well as five vaudeville acts. In November 1929, the Congress was taken over by the Balaban & Katz chain.
In the 1970’s, the Congress was renamed Teatro Azteca, and screened Spanish-language films. Movies continued to be shown at the Congress through the 1980’s. By the 1990’s, the theater hosted live Latin acts, boxing matches, and an occasional film.
In 2000, the theater was threatened by demolition (for proposed condominiums), but the neighborhood rallied to the its defense. On July 10, 2002, the Congress Theater was declared a Chicago City Landmark.
Today, this splendid survivor of the movie palace era functions as one of Chicago’s grandest concert venues.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 72 comments)
According to this article in the Chicagoist, the owners of the Congress may be interested in purchasing the Portage Theater.
In other Congress Theater news, the Congress will be undergoing a renovation beginning this fall according to this article.
I would only be against them taking over the Portage, if they insist on removing the seats. The neighborhood is still a movie going clientele. One of the main reasons there was such opposition to the church. If they remove the seats to make it a concert venue only, it will be the same as if the church had taken it over anyway. There will be no way to run classic films or staged events without seats.
I REMEMBER GOING TO TO CONGRESS JUST 1 TIME IN 1968 MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE A CHRISTMAS MOVIE ,,I REMEMBER SANTA CLAUSE IN IT ,,THATS IT,, MY DAD USE TO GO SEE THE OLD SPAGHETTE WESTERS THERE ,,SOMETIME AFTER THAT IT TURNED INTO TO THE MEXICO THEATER,,
It’s nice to see the building is going to be renovated. Regarding the Portage: I seriously doubt the seats would be kept. Every converted old theater in the city that I am aware of removed them from the main floor.
Here is a recent close-up view of the ornate terra-cotta facade of the Congress.
From today’s Chicagoist “Congress Theater Owner Defaults on Bank Loan”
Chicagoist named “Drama at the Congress and Portage Theaters” one of its top stories of 2012.
Good article, sums up the whole rotten mess really good, I would'nt want that guy living next door to me!
New charges. Liquor license in jeopardy:
http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/21/bad_behavior_of_congress_theater_se.php
One of these days Carranza is going to run out of luck.