Coronet Theatre
817 Chicago Avenue,
Evanston,
IL
60202
817 Chicago Avenue,
Evanston,
IL
60202
4 people
favorited this theater
Originally opened in 1915 as the Triangle Theatre, it was re-named Park Theatre in the 1920’s and the New Main Theatre in 1928. The theater became part of the Balaban & Katz chain in 1936 and was remodeled by the firm of Pereira & Pereira. It was renamed the Coronet Theatre in 1938. The Coronet was one of the smaller of Evanston’s movie theaters, which included, among others, the Varsity, the Valencia, and the Stadium (later renamed the Evanston).
This Art Deco style movie house sat just over 800, and remained a first-run theater for decades, before it began to decline in the 1970’s, due to the abundance of larger multiplexes opening up in neighboring Chicago and nearby suburbs.
It closed as a movie theatre in 1984 and was later used on and off as a concert venue, but was closed in the late 1990’s, and demolished in 2000.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 26 comments)
B&K took it over in July 1936. It was widened, lengthened, and entirely remodeled, going from 600 seats to 1000.
“Plans by Pereira & Pereira call for a new front of smooth surfaced materials, a new lobby, foyer, and lounge, new seats with more space between and wider aisles.
Illuminated by indirect cove lighting, the new foyer will be paneled in bleached aspenwood trimmed with aluminum. The theater’s frontage will be increased to 53 feet and its depth to 182 feet."
The lobby was a fine design. It rose two stories and was filled with art deco “coronet” decorations. I hope someone, somewhere has a picture of it. But the time I saw the auditorium it was all painted white, but probably cool in its day as well.
I remember seeing “Carrie” at The Coronet. My friend who’d already seen it, grabbed my arm at film’s end(SpoilerAlert), when Amy Irving has a dream sequence. I nearly lept into the
80's. I also saw "Rocky" there as I recall. When it tried to become a concert venue in the90’s, I remember reading that the proprietors met nothing but community resistance. Particulary from the then Alderman, possibly not even from that ward.It involved the sale of liquor. And a dispute about patrons being allowed to only drink in the lobby, and not carry the drinks into the auditorium. A technicality apparently in the proposed license process.
I think even spotters were snuck in to catch any possible “wrongdoing” in the act.
A mindset that was probably part of why Evanston was dry until 1975. Though the Coronet’s previous porno incarnation couldn’t have helped.
In the building known as The Main next door was Amazing Grace. Another venue that featured folk music, etc. Along with a barber shop, restaurant called the Main, and some other shops. I drove by there last week. The entire corner is gone. Aross on the S/W corner is the famous Main Street New Stand. The original neon sign adorning a newer structure.
Doris Day grew up here. She may have attended this theatre as a child.
Greetings. Different Evanston. Doris Day was born in Evanston, Ohio. Near Cincinatti. The Coronet was in Evanston Illinois.
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All new seats, but the marquee leaves something to be desired. 1982:
View link
They almost spelled it right.
Your starting to remind me of someone else on here.
Here are two more 1982 photos:
Day Photo
Night Photo