Melrose Theatre
121 Broadway,
Melrose Park,
IL
60160
121 Broadway,
Melrose Park,
IL
60160
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Commonwealth Amusement Corp., Suburban Theatres
Previous Names: Melrose Park Theatre
Nearby Theaters
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
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Converted in the 1950’s to a McCrory Dept. Store.
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.
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…
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.
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
Here is a photo circa 1946:
http://tinyurl.com/yckbe65
Nice Marquee and entrance photo ken mc.