Monroe Theatre

I recall that the Monroe’s name was in unusual but eye-catching Old English type in its daily Chicago Tribune ad listings.

The site was previously the Columbia theater, which was destroyed by fire. The Inter-Ocean building was built on the site, and in 1919, Architects Postle & Fisher prepared plans to remodel a theater into the building. Chicago Tribune, Jan 8, 1919.

I believe this July 1940 Library of Congress image is of the Monroe.

The Monroe played double features, changed weekly. From the late 50’s to 1960, would often show “B” horror films. “FRANKENSTEINS DAUGHTER"plus "MISSILE TO THE MOON”; “THE WASP WOMAN” plus “BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE”; “THE GIANT GILA MONSTER” plus “THE KILLER SHREWS”. Starting about 1961, went to an “ADULTS ONLY” policy,showing soft core sex films, along with some offbeat,lurid, and obscure films that few~if any~other theatres would play.For example, Sal Mineo in “WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR” ,Mamie Van Doren and Mickey Rooney in “PRIVATE LIVES OF ADAM & EVE”,and Arch Hall Jr. in “THE SADIST”. Admission was cheap…65cents to noon 90 cents thereafter.The place always seemed crowded…guys (like me) looking for cheap thrills, I guess. By the 1970’s, patronage was down, due to other Loop theatres showing adult fare like Russ Meyers VIXEN. Last movie I saw there was the X rated spoof “FLESH GORDON” about 1973. A huge rat could be seen running around the aisles. The Monroe closed a year or two later.