Lawndale Theater
4015 West Roosevelt Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
4015 West Roosevelt Road,
Chicago,
IL
60624
2 people
favorited this theater
The Lawndale, which opened in 1927, was located in the North Lawndale community on Roosevelt Road at Pulaski Road. It was a rather large neighborhood movie house, seating 2,000, which later featured burlesque, and after that, movies once more, before it was closed in 1963. It was known as the Rena Theater in its later years. Most recently, the former theater had housed a church.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 33 comments)
Great photos. It appears as though the square panes of glass in the window surrounding the medallion were later spray painted in various colors. The dropped ceiling that closes off the balcony and above from the main floor was done in a similar way at the Central Park/COGIC.
Here is a 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d34pzk
A Feb. post above claims LAWNDALE/RENO renovation stalled, and having driven past there last week yes—unfortunately no (outwardly) visible progress at all.
I drove by and the stained glass is partially broken, it appears as if someone threw a rock at it. I believe just east of the theater was there parking lot? It is covered by grass today.
My RENA passby last week – not only no (restorative) activity there, it appears to be getting even worse shape. I predict no real hope, demolition inevitable, steal your last glimpses while you can there on Roosevelt.
Probably just more sheep in the real estate boom.
In “IMAGES of AMERICA- CHICAGO’S JEWISH WEST SIDE” by Irving Cutler, there is a great pic of the Rena- marquee and vertical sign- on page 88.
The theatre is being salvaged
View link
Great pictures,All.
Recently I photographed the interior of the Lawnsdale.
Here is a blog post about it.