Oakland Square Theater
3947 S. Drexel Boulevard,
Chicago,
IL
60653
3947 S. Drexel Boulevard,
Chicago,
IL
60653
No one has favorited this theater yet
The Oakland Square was opened on March 4, 1916, designed by Henry L. Newhouse for the Ascher Brothers circuit. In the 1930’s, 1940’s, and into the 1950’s, this theater was one of several in Chicago operated by Warner Brothers, later Stanley-Warner. In the mid-1960’s, the theater became part of the new Brotman & Sherman chain, initially mostly made up of former Warner theaters.
By the 1970’s, both the surrounding neighborhood and the theater itself fell into serious decline, and the Oakland Square Theatre closed not long afterwards. It became a hangout for gangs and illegal activities, and neighborhood leaders demanded the city of Chicago condemn the long-vacant building and have it razed, which finally occurred in 1990.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater
Recent comments (view all 11 comments)
It apparently was rather innovative when the project was announced; it was noted to contain “no wall seats” (boxes, I presume), held extra-wide seats, and was apparently both the city’s largest all-movie theater at the time, and “the first theater over 1,000 seats without a stage”. Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1915.
There’s a photo in this sunday’s (1/29/06) Tribune Magazine of the theatre while the El Rukn gang controlled it. Pretty lovely building.
Brian, here is that photo of the Oakland Square Theater from the Tribune Magazine. (Not sure how long the link will last).
http://www.kentimmerman.com/rukn.htm
View link
A Kimball theater organ size 2/8 was installed in the Oakland Square Theater in 1915.
According to this blog post a spacious private residence has been built on the Oakland Square site.
Inside the auditorum while it was under gang control:
View link
Fort exterior, 1987:
View link
March 4, 1916 grand opening ad posted here.