Atlantic Theater
3948 W. 26th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60623
3948 W. 26th Street,
Chicago,
IL
60623
2 people
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Opened in 1917 for the Schoenstadt circuit, this theater, originally seating over 2000, once contained a 3/11 Kilgen organ.
Designed by Henry L. Newhouse, the former Atlantic Theater was located in what was once known as the South Lawndale neighborhood (today’s Little Village or La Villita) on 26th Street at Harding Avenue.
The Atlantic continued to operate as a movie theater into the 80s, last featuring Spanish-language films (by the mid-70s, it had been twinned operating as the Atlantic I & II). In 1996, long after it was closed, the interior of the theater building was gutted and converted into shopping mall. The Atlantic’s facade, however, still remains more or less intact.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, Eric Muniz, Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 18 comments)
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The Atlantic is listed in a 12/1/1974 article in the Chicago Tribune on the Spanish-language movie theaters of Chicago. It is called the Atlantic I & II in the article.
I am looking for photos, drawings, ground plans, remembrances etc. of the Henry L. Newhouse Forest Theatre 7526 Madison street, Forest Park, Illinois. I am located in NYC. Thank you.
Craig Jacobs
Here are some 1983 photos of the Atlantic:
http://tinyurl.com/cu4cyz
http://tinyurl.com/cmc4p2
1982 Photo
1985 Photo
If anyone has contact info for William Berinstein, please let me know. Still trying to get info on The Forest Theatre designed by Henry L. Newhouse. Thank you.
Craig Jacobs
I remember seeing Frank V Martinek, cartoonist of Don Winslow, at the Atlantic. What was the name of the theater just east of Pulaski Road (aka Crawford Ave) on either Cermak Road (22nd) or Ogden Ave???
A 3/11 Kilgen was installed in the theatre in 1917.
It says here that the Atlantic was gutted. No offense to anyone, but I have observed that gutted gets applied to a broad range of situations. Did they just put in a bunch of false ceilings here or was the place really stripped down to four walls?
Inside, at least on the first floor, it looks like any other professional building, except with a sloped floor. I didn’t go upstairs, it’s possible that the ceiling may survive above dropped ceilings, but it appears like a pretty total gut.