Alvin Theatre
1612-1614 W. Chicago Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60622
1612-1614 W. Chicago Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60622
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i walk past the (former) ALVIN THEATRE a couple times a year, when me & wife Claire get a yearning for a slice at Hoosier Mama’s Pie bakery right next door. recall last year (2011) people there talking ALVIN building was on the market
Here’s a picture of the Alvin from yesterday.
View link
Did we need that link posted again?
Compare the 1982 photo to the Loopnet photo posted in December 2006:
http://tinyurl.com/c7ewmm
Here is a 1982 view of the Alvin:
http://tinyurl.com/d8slpe
Andie’s Candies. That place was as cold as a meat locker and they had the COLDEST water too. Braverman’s,..Green River…yes, I had forgoten about those places. Woolworth’s was a good place to grade an RC and a plate of fries for a quick lunch. Thanks for the memory jolt!
Often went there as a kid in the 60’s. Thought it was weird the Hub and Alvin so close to each other but gave you a choice of movies. Plenty of good eats near at Braverman’s. Also near was Todd’s Burgers. Todd opened the place out of High School in the mid 60’s. Was almost next to the ALvin but moved down Chicago Av. Also at Chicago and Ashland was Helen’s Grill. a 7 seat lunch counter. Burger and chips, no fries … Or Goldblatt’s for the lunch counter or just grab a Green River at the Andie’s Candies.
Loopnet still has the ad posted, but says the building is no longer available. Maybe in escrow or they took it off the market.
The Alvin Theater is listed in a 12/1/74 article in the Chicago Tribune about the Spanish-language movie houses of Chicago.
I saw my first movies at the Alvin – they excelled at triple features in the 60s!. I also worked there one summer in the 60s – my first paycheck was aboutn $86 and change. I preferred it to the Hub because it was smaller and closer to where I lived – Chicago and Ashland. I still go back to the old neighborhood and yes, the Alvin was turned into a clothing store. I hope it’s resurrected as the neighborhood seems to be going that way.
This was the first movie house I ever attended! I arrived in the U.S. in July, 1975. Being from a small town in Mexico, I had never attended one. My older brother got me hooked on movies!!! Anyway, I recall seeing a Mexican vampire film and a western (I have no idea of the titles) and my brother had a girlfriend who cashiered at a small record store next door to the theater. So began my long love of movies.
Architect was David Saul Klafter.
A Gottfried theater organ was installed in the Alvin Theater in 1923.
This building is for sale here. A build date of 1916 is given. I’m not sure how accurate that date is. Asking price is $1,050,000. Recent photo is included.
The Alvin theatre was open at least through 1969- possibly even 1970, early ‘71. I was never inside, but passed by on the Chicago Ave. bus a few times, on my way to the Hub theatre. Both theatres closed about the same time. The Alvin was not a B&K theatre(at least from 1959-on). Like the Hub, it played double or triple features, with about 3 program changes a week.
It’s currently vacant and up for sale. Please no more condos.
Last time I was out that way (probably three years ago) there was still an active business of some kind. I think the marquee was even still there, though covered with retail signs now.
Here is a profile from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s HAARGIS system. It includes a small picture.