Apollo's 2000

2875 W. Cermak Road,
Chicago, IL 60623

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Goodman & Harrison Theatres

Architects: Roy B. Blass, Alexander L. Levy

Functions: Concerts, Live Performances

Styles: Art Deco, Spanish Renaissance

Previous Names: Marshall Square Theatre

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 773.247.0200

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Auditorium

Opened December 22, 1917, the Marshall Square Theatre was designed by architect Alexander L. Levy, who later teamed with William J. Klein to go on to design some of Chicago’s greatest movie palaces, like the Granada Theatre and Marbro Theatre. It was located in the Marshall Square neighborhood on W. 22nd Street near S. Marshall Boulevard (W. 22nd Street was later renamed W. Cermak Road, after the Mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak, 1931-33, who died from a bullet in Miami meant for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt).

Originally a venue for both vaudeville acts as well as movies, the Marshall Square Theatre was equipped with a Kimball 3 manual 12 ranks organ. It later switched to a movies-only policy, until the screen went dark in the 1970’s.

In 1936, architect Roy B. Blass remodeled the Marshall Square Theatre, and new signage was added on the elegant terra-cotta covered facade. One of the support beams for the soaring vertical sign was unfortunately rammed right through the large terra-cotta face of a beautiful goddess above the main entrance, sadly destroying it.

Today, restored and renovated in the 1990’s for use as a concert hall, the Marshall Square Theatre is now known as Apollo’s 2000.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 29 comments)

sunscreem5
sunscreem5 on January 30, 2012 at 7:03 pm

Did this theater show Spanish language movies in the late 1970’s early 80’s?

theatre123
theatre123 on April 13, 2012 at 2:42 pm

Broan The Apollos 2000 is more similar to the Brighton Park and The Metro Theatre. (Now demolished) The Howard is more similar to interior design. The Metro was almost identical except that the arch and in the back of the Theatre had bleacher type seats. The Brighton Park had a balcony and looked nothing like the Apollos 2000 Theatre on the inside but on the outside were extremely similar.

OeOeO
OeOeO on June 26, 2012 at 4:01 pm

Why is this listed as Apollo 2000. That is the club name and it never showed movies under that name. It should be listed as Marshall Square theater. It started showing movies in Spanish in either 1967 or 1968.

Broan
Broan on June 26, 2012 at 4:39 pm

Cinema Treasures policy is to list it under the current name if it’s open.

ktsmith2557
ktsmith2557 on March 23, 2013 at 9:31 am

So many memories, movies and several hour long all-cartoon afternoons !

rivest266
rivest266 on November 13, 2016 at 5:19 am

This opened on December 22nd, 1917. Its grand opening ad can be found in the photo section.

LouRugani
LouRugani on March 1, 2021 at 7:02 am

There was a Theatre Historical Society tour through the MARSHALL SQUARE in about 1984 as it still operated as a cinema.

Broan
Broan on April 6, 2022 at 2:02 pm

https://hdl.handle.net/2027/osu.32435022587802?urlappend=%3Bseq=30%3Bownerid=13510798903008798-34

Mark
Mark on September 24, 2023 at 5:19 pm

Marshall Square’s architect Alexander L. Levy, later teamed with Peoria’s Frederick (not William) J. Klein who designed the Apollo and Madison theatre’s in Peoria and later the magnificent atmospheric Coronado in Rockford.

RickB
RickB on December 7, 2023 at 4:40 pm

Building gets preliminary recommendation for Chicago Landmark status. Just the start of a long process. Block Club Chicago story here.

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