Glen Art Theatre

540 Crescent Boulevard,
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Unfavorite 12 people favorited this theater

Related Websites

Glen Art Theatre (Official)

Additional Info

Architects: William B. Betts

Firms: Betts & Holcomb

Functions: Movies (Classic), Movies (First Run), Movies (Foreign)

Styles: Tudor Revival

Previous Names: Glen Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 630.415.1976

Nearby Theaters

GLEN Theatre, Glen Ellyn, Illinois in mid-May of 1980.

The Glen Theatre, formerly a single screen theatre, opened in February 1927. It was designed in the Tudor Revival style, along with the storefronts on either side of the three-story building. The architect was William B. Betts of Park Ridge, IL, who also designed a number of other movie theaters in the Chicago suburbs. Originally, the Glen Theatre not only featured motion pictures, but live stage acts, as well, and contained a Barton organ.

Today, the exterior remains fairly similar to its original appearance, except for a later marquee, and its vertical sign long since removed. The interior, however, has been heavily altered.

Now renamed Glen Art Theatre, this downtown Glen Ellyn landmark remains a favorite destination today, and now screens an eclectic mix of first-run Hollywood fare, art, foreign, and classic features. The largest of the Glen Art’s four auditoriums, seating about 220, has Dolby sound.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 19 comments)

DavidMoreau
DavidMoreau on April 30, 2006 at 7:04 am

In the late seventies, I lived in one of the small apartments above the Glen. Just before film time the smell of popcorn would waft through the building. The projectionist’s booth was a short walk across the flat roof. In the theater’s basement was a small shuttered bowling alley. That arrangement reminded me of the old Villard theater in Villa Park, designed by the same people, Betts and Holcomb.

furdougie
furdougie on May 9, 2006 at 4:13 pm

whar are the seating arrangements like at this theater? spread out? close together? arm rests?

shoeshoe14
shoeshoe14 on January 17, 2007 at 7:35 pm

A scene in the movie “Lucas” (1986) was shot outside with 2 clear shots of the marquee and also inside one of the theaters.

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on May 25, 2010 at 7:49 pm

What a horrible movie"MONSIGNOR" we played it first run,but wasn’t charging $1.50 a seat like GlenArt was doing.

Aaron77
Aaron77 on January 15, 2013 at 3:16 pm

This theater was featured in the film ‘'Lucas’‘ (1986) Starring: Corey Haim & Charlie Sheen.

Broan
Broan on June 24, 2018 at 5:26 pm

There was a previous Glen theater in Glen Ellyn. It opened in 1914 at 481 Main Street, designed by George Awsumb for T. Stuart Smith. It was operated by Sam Bowden. In 1923 Polka Brothers took over the lease, intending to demolish it and build a new 1000 seat theatre. However, voters shut down Sunday movies, which killed these plans, but they proceeded without Polka Brothers. Later, a theater was proposed for Main & Duane streets, but went unbuilt, as did a proposed theater in conjunction with a Masonic Lodge. The Glen opened February, 1927.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on September 22, 2018 at 9:21 pm

1934 photo added via 1934 photo via Stephen Regier‎. Original marquee and a 1934 Pontiac Eight 2 door Touring Sedan parked out front.

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