Comments about Dale Theater in Riverdale, IL

DavidZornig on July 22, 2025 at 9:09 pm

Probably just a typo but, I added a 1943 print ad with 71 E. 137th Street.

DavidZornig on July 22, 2025 at 9:02 pm

January 1, 1942 print ad added credit The Pointer newspaper. New Years Day was a Thursday as noted in the ad. Which seems to defy the 1943 Grand Opening ad previously posted. But some of the release dates of the films are 1940, 41 &42. So maybe it changed hands twice as The Dale.

carl3615 on September 13, 2013 at 3:16 pm

I reloaded the photos (broken links). These pictures are via the Riverdale Historical Society, of which I’m a member.

carl3615 on September 12, 2007 at 2:44 pm

If my previous links don’t work, these will:

View link

carl3615 on September 12, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Adding to Ken’s comments: Opened in 1914 as a nickelodeon: “Riverdale Theatre” on what was—then—the main street of Riverdale: 137th. Despite it’s small size, attendees say up to 300 could be squeezed in. Riverdalian, and village officer, Peter Kurz purchased it circa 1943 and renamed it the “Dale Theatre.” Due to competition by the larger Dolton (IL) theatre nearby, the Dale closed in the early 1950’s, later becoming Harold’s Cleaners. Today, 2007, the building stands empty. (Carl-Riverdale Historical Society). Pictures below from 1915-1918-1920, a Dale ad, and Harold’s Cleaners:

View link

kencmcintyre on August 21, 2006 at 3:40 pm

This is a 1920 photo of the Riverdale:
http://tinyurl.com/gvh4f

Dale Theater

76 E. 137th Street, Riverdale, IL 60827

76 E. 137th Street,
Riverdale, IL 60827