Hub Theater
1746 W. Chicago Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60622
1746 W. Chicago Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60622
2 people
favorited this theater
The Hub Theater opened around 1913, in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago, on Chicago Avenue near Hermitage Avenue.
Its was designed by David Saul Klafter, an architect more known in Chicago for his residental architecture.
The Hub closed as a movie house in the very early 1990s, and the building has been converted into office space.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
A Gottfried theater organ was installed in the Hub Theater in 1924.
The HUB had one of those big long “It’s Air Conditioned COLD Inside!"
banner signs out in front I remember. I had no problems with this place the few times I attended early ‘60s, but somehow the ALVIN a block or so east on Chicago usually got my business. The unused old elevated track structure for the (now) long-gone 'Paulina St L’ used to crossover Chicago Ave just a couple doors east of the HUB.
Regarding Bravermans Deli, it wsa located east of the Alvin Theatre.
The Alvin Theatre was located several blocks east of the Hub Theatre.
thepast mentioned a horseshoe bar at Bravermans, they only had tables and chairs and no alcohol was served. The tavern several doors west of Bravermans had a horseshoe type bar.
The Hub Theater is listed in a 12/1/74 article in the Chicago Tribune about the Spanish-language movie houses of Chicago.
It would be “El Centro”, if you were talking about the hub of a city, or “El Cubo”, if you were talking about a wheel.
So the Hub theatre continued to operate into the mid 70s, possibly to 1980 or beyond? And the Alvin, Armitage, Royal, and others? Once these theatres disappeared from the movie listings in the early 70s, I assumed they were closed for good. Glad to know they flourished- at least for a while-as Spanish language theatres. Thanks for the information, Bryan.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d6qaac
Here’s a picture from yesterday.
View link
I grew up near the Hub and saw Dean Martin in a Matt Helm movie there. Good times.
Hey, JClaudio, I used to work with you at the Cinema Theatre. I hope all is well with you. Mr. U. passed away in May, 2004. If you know anyone with money let’s restore and re-open the Village Theatre. Maybe we could go across the street and grab the old Cinema marquee from the Chicago History Museum. Send me a message at If you noticed, I’m paying tribute to Oscar Brotman (1915-1994) with my e-mail address. He was Chicago’s last showman. I hope to hear from you soon. Take care.—-Tim O'Neill