Mary, I would be happy to share 2 pictures of the Teatro Del Lago with you. One I took of the ticket taker at his post when I worked there in 1960. Can’t remember his name. I think he worked there forever. Send me your email address at and I will foreward them to you.
The top of this page shows the seating capacity at 1190. Bryan researched and came up with 500. Let me throw my 2 cents in. When I worked at the Teatro as an usher in 1959, the boredom of the job was at times overwhelming. I remember being stationed inside the seating area one Sunday afternoon and decided to count the seats. I remember counting 725 on the first floor and around 150 in the balcony. Please don’t ask why I remember that. I have no answer.
As far as I can remember, everyone called it just the “Teatro”. Almost used as slang to say “Let’s go to the "Teatro”. The full name didn’t matter. Everyone in town knew what you meant.
Casey,
Thanks so much for the information on your dad. Although I have not seen him in about 40 years, I still feel a great loss. Sounds like he really got into the business in a big way. I don’t know your age so I don’t know how much you remember about the Teatro. I do have a few pictures of the interior I took when I worked there in 1958. I would be more than happy to email copies to you if you have any interest.
This is great seeing that there are still a handful of us who remember this theater. I think I spent half my childhood in that building. I would quite often con the projectionist (i think his name was louie) into letting me sit up in his palace and watch the workings up close.
A note to Casey Pratt. I knew your dad well. He was a great guy to work for. The last I saw of him was in a picture in the wilds of Colorado.
I worked as an usher at this beautiful theater in 1959-60. Movie legend Rock Hudson was also an usher here before my time. Rock Hudson donated a huge self portrait to the theater in the early to mid 1950’s. Theater management would hang the picture in the lobby when they knew Rock would be visiting Wilmette. All other times it was stashed in the attic of the theater gathering dust. Always wondered what happened to the picture when the theater was razed. The owner of the theater was a gentleman named Sam Meyer. He also owned a small theater in Glencoe Illinois. Terrific guy. I will be posting a picture of the Teatro Del Lago as soon as I find it.
Mary, I would be happy to share 2 pictures of the Teatro Del Lago with you. One I took of the ticket taker at his post when I worked there in 1960. Can’t remember his name. I think he worked there forever. Send me your email address at and I will foreward them to you.
The top of this page shows the seating capacity at 1190. Bryan researched and came up with 500. Let me throw my 2 cents in. When I worked at the Teatro as an usher in 1959, the boredom of the job was at times overwhelming. I remember being stationed inside the seating area one Sunday afternoon and decided to count the seats. I remember counting 725 on the first floor and around 150 in the balcony. Please don’t ask why I remember that. I have no answer.
As far as I can remember, everyone called it just the “Teatro”. Almost used as slang to say “Let’s go to the "Teatro”. The full name didn’t matter. Everyone in town knew what you meant.
Casey,
Thanks so much for the information on your dad. Although I have not seen him in about 40 years, I still feel a great loss. Sounds like he really got into the business in a big way. I don’t know your age so I don’t know how much you remember about the Teatro. I do have a few pictures of the interior I took when I worked there in 1958. I would be more than happy to email copies to you if you have any interest.
This is great seeing that there are still a handful of us who remember this theater. I think I spent half my childhood in that building. I would quite often con the projectionist (i think his name was louie) into letting me sit up in his palace and watch the workings up close.
A note to Casey Pratt. I knew your dad well. He was a great guy to work for. The last I saw of him was in a picture in the wilds of Colorado.
I worked as an usher at this beautiful theater in 1959-60. Movie legend Rock Hudson was also an usher here before my time. Rock Hudson donated a huge self portrait to the theater in the early to mid 1950’s. Theater management would hang the picture in the lobby when they knew Rock would be visiting Wilmette. All other times it was stashed in the attic of the theater gathering dust. Always wondered what happened to the picture when the theater was razed. The owner of the theater was a gentleman named Sam Meyer. He also owned a small theater in Glencoe Illinois. Terrific guy. I will be posting a picture of the Teatro Del Lago as soon as I find it.