Windsor Theatre
1225 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1225 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1 person
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The Windsor Theatre was opened as part of the Lubliner & Trinz circuit on May 9, 1914. It was one of the earliest projects from the firm of Rapp & Rapp. The theater was later run by the H & E Balaban chain. It was located on Clark Street near Division Street, in the Gold Coast neighborhood.
The theater was remodeled by the firm of Pereira & Pereira in 1936. The Windsor operated into the late-1950’s, and was razed by 1961.
Today the site is occupied by condominiums and retail.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Wasn’t the Windsor on the east side of Clark Street? If so there are condos and a Blockbuster store. The Jewel is on the west side of the street.
Yep—it was on the east side of he street. Right to the south of it was “The Shooting Gallery” which was equivalent to the videogame rooms of today. I worked in the ticket counter/popcorn concession.
According to records at the Chicago Historical Society, this was one of Rapp & Rapp’s earliest projects.
It was built on the site of a nickelodeon, the Lincoln, that had burned down.
The Windsor featured a balcont and stage.
In 1934 a modernization in a chinese theme by Pereira & Pereira was announced but not carried out. In 1936 a more extensive, $70,000 plan by the same firm was used,
“Gay colors and new materials will be features of the exterior. Blue will be the prevailing hue. The interior will be entirely rebuilt, with new seats and a new lounge and restrooms in a space acquired for that purpose. The present boxes will be removed. An enlarged air conditioning system will be installed.”
An article in the May 14, 1961 Chicago Tribune (“Windsor Theater Ends Distinguished Career”) states that the theater first opened on the site in September 1886 as a legitimate playhouse. The article goes on to say that the Windsor had two fires since 1886 but was rebuilt each time. It says that in 1914, the theater that was being torn down in 1961 was opened, as a movie theater.