Oak Theatre
2004 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
2004 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
6 people
favorited this theater
The Oak Theatre opened in 1910, in the Logan Square neighborhood, as a vaudeville and movie house. It was designed by J.E.O. Pridmore. The theatre featured a balcony, and large stage, with Moorish interior decor. The exterior, of red brick, featured an elaborate terra-cotta facade in Neo-Gothic style.
The theater was remodeled in 1930 in Art Deco style by David Saul Klafter. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, it became an adult theater.
In 1992, it reopened as a concert venue. However, in 1995, it closed again, and was torn down that same year. A drive-thru bank is now located on the site of the Oak Theatre.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 32 comments)
I went to the Oak Theatre in time span of the late Forties and early Fifties, saw Roy Roger and Dale evans there….saw Cisco and Pancho in person one Saturday on the way to the show. And Cisco’s horse Diaboblo..I am sure I spelled that wrong. I was really young, and in the seventies I tried to show my Children all the different shows I had gone to and unfortunately most were showing porn by then….Oak, Crystal, Tiffen, and the Rockne. In those days show admission was a whole quarter for many hours of movies and normally 2 cartoons too..when I was under five we lived on Stave Street, and then moved to the other house on the same lot Bingham Street…one block from the Ravenswood El.The producer from the Kuckla Fran and Ollie show lived in our neighborhood…I would love to hear from anyone who attened Chase Grade School, I went to kindergarten there. Or someone who lived in the neighbord…contact me at or Susan Besaw on Face Book…would love to make a neighbor hood connection.
SusanLocke, I did not attend Chase school, but I am in your “age group”. You are so lucky to have seen some of our TV Western Heroes in person! Here is some additional info: Duncan Renaldo, who played Cisco, was born in Romania. he often played “Ethnic” characters in the movies, including a WW2 Japanese Diplomat in two “Three Stooges” shorts. Leo Carillo was over seventy years old when he played “Pancho. On the Island of Hawaii, many celebrities, including Leo Carillo, have had "Banyan Trees” planted in their name on “Banyan Drive” Each banyan has a sign in front, including one for Leo. I may still have the photos somewhere. I went to McPherson Elem (1956-1965)and Amundsen HS(1965 to 1969) and lived in the Lincoln Square neighborhood at the time.
By the way, www.classmates.com may help you find others from Chase school.
Hey everyone. I am working on a project to document the history of adult theatres in the US. If anyone has any memories of the Oak they would be willing to share, please contact me at
HughJazz – if you see this, I’d love to talk to you. I would love to talk with some people who worked at these places. I’ve read your posts and it sounds like you have lots of stories.
My parents reopened the Oak Theater in the 90’s. I have few memories of hanging out in the office during some of the shows. I will never forget running around that place in between shows and the way my voice echoed throughout the empty theater.
Most of you never noticed the floor when the theater was filled up to capacity but i remember the giant Oak Theater logo painted on the floor. My parents had a difficult time operating the Oak Theater and they had no choice but to close it.
It is a shame that it was replaced by a bank. A building with some much history and a theater that many hold dear to their heart to this day. If my parents still had it today, i would definitely be involved with operating it. I know there is a photo album somewhere. I will have to dig this up and share it.
@Oak Theater:
I’m putting a gift together for someone of ‘The Oak’ and I would love to use any photos you have..I posted a piece I had drawn of ‘The Oak’ to use as the centerpiece of the gift. And, I found some photos here and online. But, I would love to have more.
I remember going by on the El and seeing XXX on the marquee. Later I remember going by on the El and seeing concerts on the marquee. Then once I went by on the El and it was gone. Maybe it’s too bad the Oak couldn’t have hung on a few more years. I’ve heard that smaller concert venues are making money these days.
THe Oak,,OMG,, I REMEMBER IT WELL,,I FIRST WENT TO THE OAK,,IN FEB,1982 THATS WHEN I TURNED 18 ,ON THE MARQUIE IT SAID HAD TO BE 18 TO ENTER,,SO ME AND A FRIEND FROM HIGHSCHOOL ,, DECIDED WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE OAK WAS LIKE ,,WE,VE SEEN THE PLACE A MILLION TIMES ,, BUT NEVER TRIED TO GET IN,,SO ON THE MONTH OF MY BIRTHDAY ,,WITH ID,S IN POCKET WE CREPT UP TO THE INTRANCE BEING CARE NOT TO BE SPOTTED BY ANYONE WE KNEW,SPORTING DARK,SUNGLASES (AT NIGHT),AND OUR MEMBERS ONLY JACKETS ,WE BOUGHT TICKETS ,WE DIDDNT EVEN GET ASKED FOR OUR ID,S ,,I REMEMBER THE 2 MOVIES ( THE BANGKOK CONNECTION,,AND SCRUPLES ) WE SAT IN THE 1ST ROW DECKED OUT IN NEW LEE JEANS POLO SHIRTS AND OUR JACKETS AND SUNGLASSES STILL ON ,NERVEOUS AS HELL,,, SURROUNDED BY ALL OLDER MEN IN THERE LATE 40,S AND 50,S ,,THE DANCERS WERE FUNNY ALL OLDER WOMEN ,,OLDER THAN US ,WE ONLY REMOVED THE GLASSES TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THERE BREASTS ,THEN WE PUT THEM BACK ON,,I DONT REMEMBER IF IT WAS AT THE END OR DURING INTERMISSION,, THEY HAD SOME YOUNG PORN ACTRESS ,,THERE FOR PHOTOS ,,A LITTLE GIRL,BUT CUTE ,,FOR $5.00 SHE WOULD SIT ON YOUR LAP,HER ARM AROUND YOUR NECK,AND YOUR HAND AROUND HER WAIST,,LATER IN THE YEAR OF 1992 ,I HAD A NEW GIRLFRIEND ( WIFE NOW) WHO LIKED BAD BOY BLUES THEY WERE THERE LIVE ,,WE DIDDNT GET A CHANCE TO GO REGRETABLE,,SHORTLY AFTER THAT CLOSED DOWN,,SOMETIMES WE STILL GO TO MARGIES CANDIES ,,I WILL LOOK AT THE SMALL DRIVE THRU BANK AND REMEMBER THE OAK,VERY COOL MEMMORIES THANKS,,MATT
Looking at the demolition photos, it looks like the Oak’s interior had already been gutted – bare brick walls and open ceiling beams. Is that right?
Well I remember Oak theatre so so well !!! Many good times there as a little girl .Used to go with my Mom and Dad with all of us children , this was their night out , and guess what the movies were silent movies ,with Valentinoand many others,I was so young could.nt read the lines in the picture , but still seemed to understand the movie. Later in my life as we grew up ,that was where I watched the first talkie. As children we would save the “nickel to go to the Saturday special of 20 cartoons and some live entertainment, dancers , magicians, even the chiquita banana , lady Carmen Miranda ,I remember seeing Roy Rogers also , and especially Cisco kid , she Miranda , was very famous and well known especially as"the chiquita Banana lady” the song she sang then. We did'nt have a TV, not until 1952. Times were tough then.