Star and Garter Theatre

815 W. Madison Street,
Chicago, IL 60607

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Additional Info

Architects: Stephen Webster Dodge, Robert Burns Morrison

Firms: Dodge & Morrison

Nearby Theaters

Star and Garter

This theatre was located on W. Madison Street just west of N. Halsted Street. It was originally opened in 1908 as a 1,955-seat burlesque theatre, not the burlesque of the 1940’s and 1950’s, but closer to vaudeville at this time. Later, the Star & Garter became a vaudeville house, and later still, a movie theatre. It was closed in September 1971.

Demolished, in 1973, the site of the Star & Garter Theatre is now a parking lot for Mid City National Bank in an upscale area.

Contributed by John P Keating Jr

Recent comments (view all 18 comments)

juanabet
juanabet on March 16, 2014 at 10:33 am

We lived on Halsted and Harrison. Just a stones throw from this theater. My dad used to take me there. My mom and sisters didn`t go because it was skid row. Right across the street there was this burger joint that made the best cheeseburgers and chocalate malts. I went to grade school at old st. Pats, which was in the neighborhood. The good old days.

mpollack2
mpollack2 on August 31, 2014 at 8:31 pm

The sale in 1946 was to my grandfather, Harold Huchberger and his partners. They operated it until the early 1970’s.

mikebaggi
mikebaggi on October 20, 2014 at 8:00 pm

I too went to St. Patrick’s grade school during World War Two just like juanabet above. After school I attended Marillac House until my mother could pick me up after work. I lived at Morgan and Polk streets in the Italian neighborhood. My name wasn’t Baggi, it was Campo and I frequently went to the Star and Garter movie theater on Saturdays for 15 cartoons and a couple of movies. In later years my friends and I attended the ROLLER BOWL on Saturdays for roller skating. I use MIKE BAGGI for this website.

RickB
RickB on December 6, 2014 at 6:30 pm

From February 24, 1972, a short Tribune story on the Star & Garter’s demolition, with a murky interior picture. The story says that a calendar in the box office was turned to September 1971, an indication of a probable closing date.

davidplomin
davidplomin on March 4, 2015 at 7:51 pm

According to JAZZ AGE CHICAGO, the theater was closed from 1935-1946. You would think this theater would have been in demand during the war years, being that size, but I guess there were so many theaters during that time it didn’t matter. Still, I hope they salvaged the ornamentation for collectors during demolition.

Hugh
Hugh on December 30, 2015 at 9:01 pm

When the final days came for the Star and Garter, the marquee read CLEVELAND WRECKING COMPANY
THE GREATEST STRIPPER OF THEM ALL.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on September 5, 2017 at 7:53 am

Marquee detail photo added courtesy of Janeen Rosenberg‎.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on August 24, 2020 at 7:40 pm

Chicago History Museum album of Star & Garter demolition photos.

https://images.chicagohistory.org/search/?searchQuery=Star+%26+Garter&assetType=default

WestSideForever
WestSideForever on September 19, 2023 at 6:21 pm

My family lived all over the near West Side during the 50s through the 70s: Polk, Lexington, Fillmore & Taylor Sts. So naturally, my siblings and I were frequent visitors to the Star & Garter. I think tickets during this time cost 25 cents.

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