Marbro Theatre

The Marbro Theatre was designed by Edward Eichenbaum for the firm of Levy & Klein, whose other notable Chicago theaters included the Granada Theatre and the Diversey Theatre (better known by its later name, the Century Theatre), for the Marks Brothers chain (hence the theater’s name).

The Marbro Theatre opened in 1927 on Madison Street and Karlov Avenue, not far from the spectacular Paradise Theater, which would open a year later. The almost-4,000 seat Marbro Theatre was at the time one of the biggest theaters in Chicago, and not only drew its audience from Garfield Park, but the whole West Side of the city, as well as the bordering suburbs, all but stifling the competition.

Built in the Spanish Baroque style, including a flamboyant terra-cotta facade, the Marbro Theatre wowed first-time visitors with its massive stage and proscenium arch, its soaring lobby (with a two-story marble staircase and small tree-sized European crystal chandelier) and Mighty Wurlitzer 5 manual 21 rank organ.

The trade paper, Variety, wrote at the time that “…its beauty is loud, but beauty nonetheless”.

Opening day featured a parade with Garfield Park’s most prominent businessmen, the Gloria Swanson film, “The Loves of Sunya”, and performances by bandleader Benny Meroff and organist Albert Brown. Though critics warned the Marks Brothers that they’d have trouble filling the 4,000 seat theater, they were silenced when the Marbro Theatre began to draw patrons away from the nearby and longer established 3,000 seat Senate Theatre and smaller theaters in the area.

The opening of the Paradise Theatre around the block renewed speculation that the Marbro Theatre would falter, but the Marbro Theatre didn’t miss a beat, and in fact, once sound films became standard by the late-1920’s, it became the favored of the two, since the Paradise Theatre was notorious for its horrible accoustics almost from the day it opened (a tragic flaw that ultimately doomed the palatial theater).

On November 1, 1929, Marks Brothers sold the Marbro Theatre to Balaban & Katz (along with the Granada Theatre in Rogers Park that same day). The theater continued the format of live stage shows and films through the 1940’s.

The Marbo’s huge size worked against it eventually, and by the 1950’s, with the popularity of television, Balaban & Katz struggled to keep it even partly filled, and in 1963, it was closed.

Sadly, this magnificent giant was razed in 1964.

Recent comments (view all 271 comments)

amoswald on December 6, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Exciting news everyone. My essay, “Saturday at the Movies” is a finalist for the Write Place at the Write Time’s 2012 Best Non Fiction. Keep your fingers crossed!

I’ve also got a new story coming out on December 18 entitled, “Bethlehem on Madison Street.” I will share the link when it is published. Thanks for all your support!

amoswald on January 22, 2013 at 10:27 pm

Links to West Side Girl essays:

Saturday at the Movies http://thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/ourstoriesnonfiction.html

If I Were 21 I’d Vote for Kennedy http://fairclothreview.com/if-i-were-21-id-vote-for-kennedy-by-anita-oswald/

Aidan’s Road Trip http://fatcityreview.com/beta/aidans-road-trip-anita-solick-oswald/

Some Assembly Required http://fatcityreview.com/some-assembly-required-anita-solick-oswald/

Bethlehem on Madison Street http://fairclothreview.com/bethlehem-on-madison-street-by-anita-solick-oswald/

NEW Hot Diggity Dog (Winner, Best Non Fiction – The Write Place at the Write Time) and Interview http://www.thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/firstannualcontest.html

NEW Leaves http://www.thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/fiction.html

TedTheodoreFRIE on January 24, 2013 at 9:41 pm

Wow this picture brought back memories.I remember going here at least 3 or 4times.I went everywhere when I was a kid (late 50,s early 60’s) On that smaller Bldg On the corner their was this guy named RALPH that lived there.Now he runs the OFF THE STREET CLUB on Karlov and Washington. Me and my brothers went there OTSC all the time, including the camp in Wheaton in the summer.Wow I remember I was gonna get a job selling newspapers on THAT corner . There was a newsstand at that corner. Man what memories ,Even going across the street SE corner to buy an icecream for 10Cents .The five and dime. My mom took us to the A&P on Keeler every weekend.I think Ralph is still operating the OFF THE STREET CLUB but to say hello to him I got no guts for that neiborhood. WOW what memories THANKS Ted

amoswald on January 24, 2013 at 9:46 pm

Ted – check out my stories for some memories.

Links to West Side Girl essays:

Saturday at the Movies http://thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/ourstoriesnonfiction.html If I Were 21 I’d Vote for Kennedy http://fairclothreview.com/if-i-were-21-id-vote-for-kennedy-by-anita-oswald/ Aidan’s Road Trip http://fatcityreview.com/beta/aidans-road-trip-anita-solick-oswald/ Some Assembly Required http://fatcityreview.com/some-assembly-required-anita-solick-oswald/ Bethlehem on Madison Street http://fairclothreview.com/bethlehem-on-madison-street-by-anita-solick-oswald/ Hot Diggity Dog and Interview http://www.thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/firstannualcontest.html Leaves http://www.thewriteplaceatthewritetime.org/fiction.html

TedTheodoreFRIE on January 24, 2013 at 9:56 pm

Im just going crazy right now. My mom used to take us out for a dinner night to Walgreens on madison and Pulaski or the expensive one on keeler and madison on the SE corner. Man going trick or treating on Halloween on madison with my brothers . Went to the ALEX , Byrd , and another one on Austin and MADISON. wow . THE MEMORIES TED

TedTheodoreFRIE on January 24, 2013 at 10:38 pm

AND COLUMBUS PARK WAS THE ONLY PLACE WE WENT TO FOR SWIMMING.DO I HAVE REAL STORIES ABOUT THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD.WE STILL HAVE THE HOUSE AND MY SISTER LIVES THEIR ON CONGRESS AND KEELER. WE HAD TO TAKE TAP DANCING LESSONS ON MADISON JUST BEFORE PULASKI ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET. BUT OFF THE STREET CLUB WAS THE BEST

amoswald on January 24, 2013 at 10:40 pm

All covered in my stories

amoswald on January 24, 2013 at 10:40 pm

All covered in my stories

BobbyS on February 5, 2013 at 6:04 am

Anita, What wonderful stories you tell! I hated to finish. I can feel your passion because I was there too. Your stories are excellent and I can hardly wait for more. Many many thanks…….

Griffinteam on February 26, 2013 at 11:41 am

My Grandfather Jean Anthony Greif was an Organist at Marbro. He also performed at other theatres. He was a composer, organist, inventor and business Man. http://www.pstos.org/organists/wa/greif.htm