Melrose Theatre

121 Broadway,
Melrose Park, IL 60160

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Commonwealth Amusement Corp., Suburban Theatres

Previous Names: Melrose Park Theatre

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Melrose Theatre

The Melrose Park Theatre was opened in 1917 with 1,000 seats. In 1936, the name was shortened to Melrose Theatre. It was managed by the S.C. Myers Circuit, later Commonwealth Amusement.

The Melrose Theatre was closed in 1964, and was demolished in 1972.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on October 11, 2006 at 6:31 pm

Converted in the 1950’s to a McCrory Dept. Store.

Ken Roe
Ken Roe on October 12, 2006 at 6:25 am

Originally opened as the 1,000 seat Melrose Park Theatre in 1917. The name was shortened to Melrose Theatre in 1936. The recent book ‘Historic Movie Theatre in Illinois – 1883-1960’ by Konrad Schiecke gives a closing date of 1964. It was demolished in 1972.

corvetteguy1963
corvetteguy1963 on October 12, 2006 at 5:54 pm

I was wondering when this theatre was going to be finally listed!As a lifelong resident of this town ,I can tell you that after it closed,it was used as a furniture store in the sixties before demolition.Just to the south of it was the Woolworth store,which after IT closed,took half of the land ,and the other half of the theatre land,as well as the diner next door[venus],is still vacant to this day…FYI…

jimpiscitelli
jimpiscitelli on October 13, 2006 at 9:30 am

I remember reading about it in the Star Sentinel (no longer published) about the demolition of the theater in 1972. There is some information in the centennial book: Melrose Park 1882-1982 book. It took almost three decades to have a theater return to Melrose that is Cinemark Melrose Park.

arlington
arlington on April 9, 2009 at 7:08 am

I remember when the Melrose Theater used to have live stage acts-circa 1964. I was in a teen band back then and we used to perform onstage before & in-between movies. We went under the name of “Mark and the Nomads”. There were other acts that performed there as well. One in particular was a group of kids from Maywood that did rolling skating stunts. It had sort of a vaudvillian feel which was a little strange considering it was 1964. The theater manager’s name was “Ruby”,I think, and he had high hopes for all this. Anyway we had fun doing it. Does anyone else remember this. Mark Smith at

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on August 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

Nice Marquee and entrance photo ken mc.

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