Hyde Park Theaters
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.
In 2011, renovations were being carried out, for a 2012 reopening.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 41 comments)
Has anything happened to this theater?
http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=2266 Apparently it will reopen?
Status should be renovating !
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.
Status should be renovating !
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