Harper Theater
5238 S. Harper Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60615
5238 S. Harper Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60615
7 people
favorited this theater
Known as the Harper Theater when it opened on May 24, 1915, this 1,201-seat theater was originally part of the Schoenstadt circuit and was designed by architects Z. E. Smith and Horatio R. Wilson. It once contained a Kimball organ.
It later become known as the Hyde Park 1 & 2 and still later was increased to four screens. After Schoenstadt, the theater was operated by Kohlberg Theatres, M & R Theatres, Sony Theatres, and finally the Meridian chain. The Hyde Park Theatres closed in spring of 2002.
The theater was renovated in 2011-2012 and reopened on January 18, 2013 under its original Harper Theater name. It still has four screens, but has been completely renovated inside, as well as given a new marquee and vertical sign. The theatre is owned by the University of Chicago, and is operated by the New 400 Theaters, which also manages the New 400 Theaters in Rogers Park. The reopening of the Harper Theater brings movies back to the Hyde Park area for the first time in over a decade.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 44 comments)
They seem to be having trouble getting a permit. They passed review for Ventilation and Refrigeration but were denied Architectural & Fire, Disabilities, Structural, Fire Prevention, Environmental, Electrical, and Plumbing. Not sure how to interpret these. The reviews were completed in early August.
Status should be renovating !
They do have their permits now. Status should be updated assuming they’ve started actual work.
The status should be renovating. The attached building has been fully restored on the exterior and looks great. The 53rd street entrance to the theatre has been re-created beautifully, and the adjacent lobby seems to have been rediscovered. The blue and gold terra cotta on Harper Court is being destroyed, unfortunately. Assuming the exterior is done as well as the attached building, this will be gorgeous when complete.
http://www.archpaper.com/uploads/breaking_ground_10.jpg Rendering
As seen from my commuter train the Hyde Park Theatres (never visited it as I’m a suburbanite) is covered with scaffolding. As it is in an area of demolition/redevelopment, is the theatre going to be renovated, or demolished? For those of you who live, or have lived, in Hyde Park or Kenwood, here’s a link to the redevelopment going on. http://www.hydepark.org/historicpres/theater.htm
This article in the Chicago Maroon states that the theater will reopen in mid-December, and that it will be showing a mix of first-run films and independent features. The building has been owned by the University of Chicago for ten years, but will be operated by the New 400 Theaters (which currently runs the New 400 Theater in Rogers Park).
Just drove past today. The markee is up and it is being called the Harper theater. On the digital sign it said opening this Friday. I haven’t seen any info in the paper or online about if it. Is true or not. Bout time it opened back up.
Their website says they are opening on Friday. Here’s the link: http://www.harpertheater.com
More on the reopening this week of the Harper Theater in this story in Crain’s Chicago Business.