Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60641
4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60641
33 people
favorited this theater
Opened in 1920 as the Portage Park Theater (the former name is still inscribed over the Neo-Classical style facade), this was the first theater built specifically for movies (and not vaudeville shows) in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago. The theater was built for the Ascher Brothers circuit and originally could seat nearly 2,000.
The Portage Theater remained a popular fixture of the neighborhood for decades, becoming a second-run movie house in the 1960’s. In the 1980’s, its auditorium was divided in two by putting a wall down the middle of the auditorium.
Oddly, after the box office stopped being used, tickets were then sold in the lobby off a table and folding chairs set up school bake sale style.
The Portage Theater was shuttered in 2001 after operating sporadically for the previous couple years. The theater was restorated and renovated, and reopened in the spring of 2006 as a single-screen, 1,300-plus seat theater featuring both silent and sound classic motion pictures and other events, both on-screen and live.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 186 comments)
A church might preserve the building somewhat, but it also removes the property from the tax rolls. Not a smart idea for a city that needs all the revenue it can get.
http://www.facebook.com/SaveThePortageTheater
We must endeavor to persevere.
An article from today’s Chicago Tribune.
The pastor of the church that wants to move into the Portage speaks out in the Chicagoist
This article in TimeOut Chicago talks about the rally last night at the Portage to save the theater.
DON’T LET THIS BEAUTIFUL THEATRE LET A CHURCH TAKE OVER AND DESTROY OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND THEATRE!!! MUST BE SAVED!!!
There MUST be separation between church and cinema!!!
DEFG it is too late for the Church to move in Landmark status is going to the Portage theatre so alterations of the theatre space cannot be altered nore the lobby or facade can be touched.
Preliminary landmark status means that any permit filed in the preliminary period is subject to review by Landmarks. Generally it means nothing can be altered in the period of consideration, which can last up to a year. This does not mean that final designation will protect the facade, lobby, and auditorium. Indeed, the Village Art (Germania) and Biograph both are landmarked but nothing past the facade is protected.
Henry L. Newhouse should be removed as architect. Lindley Phelps Rowe was architect and firm was Fridstein & Co.