Tivoli Theatre
5021 Highland Avenue,
Downers Grove,
IL
60515
5021 Highland Avenue,
Downers Grove,
IL
60515
32 people
favorited this theater
Built in 1928, the Tivoli Theatre has been showing first run feature films since its inception. It opened on Christmas Day 1928 for the Balaban & Katz chain, and originally had a seating capacity for 1,390. The Tivoli Theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer theatre organ.
Following years of detrioration, the Tivoli Theatre closed its doors for a brief time in 1978. The Tivoli Theatre is the flagship of the Classic Cinemas chain of theatres that serves some of the suburbs and areas around Chicago.
The theatre has film and digital projection and is equipped for 3D presentations. It is home to the After Hours Film Society, Midwest Ballet Theatre Co. and other live entertainment.
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Here is a photo taken at the Tivoli with the lights out, showing the proscenium arch and the organist playing the Mighty Wurlitzer.
From 1949 a photo postcard of the Tivoli Theatre & Hotel in Downers Grove.
Was there any relationship between Van Gunten and Van Gunten and Eugene De Rosa? To me the Tivoli looks similar to this place:
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Back in 1965, my parents and I traveled from Southern California to Illinois so they could visit friends and family in their old stomping grounds. Lucky for me, the Dave Clark 5 were out promoting their latest film and stopped by the Tivoli. They simply walked on stage, waved, and left. So, yes, Mary, I was there, too. After their appearance, I ran outside, under the arms of the police officers surrounding their tour bus, and got right up next to the bus. I just stood there with my mouth hanging open, too shy to try anything else.
Mary, if you see this, I have some great photos I took of the DC5 that day.
Here is an early view of the Tivoli with its original marquee and a parapet at the roofline that was later removed.
I took my wife to see “The Artist” at the Tivoli on Valentine’s day. It was pretty cool to see this silent film, set in the 20’s and 30’s, in a theatre from 1928. Especially cool because the Tivoli was built to house talkie movies but openned with one of the last great silent films “Fazil”
The exterior of this theater shows up in the new Geico commercial about the gecko ventroliquist. Not sure if the auditorium shots are from the theater, but there are a few organ chords thrown in at the end.
Here’s a link to an auditorium view: flickr
Here’s the link to the Geico commercial featuring the exterior of the Tivoli. I hope this works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjrXRXFCIwo