Monogram Theatre
3451 S. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60616
3451 S. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60616
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I learned of the Monogram Theater while reading the last pages of the novel “Not Without Laughter” by Langston Hughes. I grew up in the near vicinity of the theater, some years after it was closed. My curiosity of the authenticity of this place lead me to this site and a 1928 article in the Defender newspaper that remains in print.
A Kilgen theater organ opus 4003 size 2/3 was installed in the Monogram Theater in 1928. Note: Style U02 with Roll Player. $2,650.00
Seymour, as Warren mentioned in the comment above dated 2/14/04, this theater has nothing to do with Monogram Pictures.
Operators of the Grand Theatre in Tulsa agreed to an exclusive booking agreement with Grand National Pictures, in association with Monogram Studios, to exhibit only product from those two mentioned production companies. During WWII years this contract was mutually cancelled to allow the Grand to switch over to showing only newsreels.
An ad in the Freeman, an African-American newspaper, circa 1917, shows the address as 3451 South State Street. The ad describes the theater as “The Home of Colored Vaudeville”.
Monogram Pictures never owned theatres. This seems just a coincidence in naming.
Did it have any affiliation with MONOGRAM PICTURES? I never believed the film company operated any cinemas, butlike PRC and other poverty row outfits, apparently they might. It is unusual to have the Monogram Theatre as a name…….anyone? PAUL BRENNAN.