Globe Theatre
1139 S. Blue Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60608
1139 S. Blue Island Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60608
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban, H & E
Architects: Samuel Levy
Previous Names: Palace Opera House, Glickman's Palace Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The 1,433-seat Palace Opera House was built in 1908. It was designed by architect Samuel Levy, who would later be part of the Levy & Klein architectural firm. In 1915 it became Glickman’s Palace Theatre. It operated as a Yiddish theatre for a while. In 1935 it was renamed Globe Theatre, operated by the H & E Balaban chain. From 1943 it was operating as a Mexican movie theatre and the seating capacity had been reduced to 850-seats. It was still open in 1951, but was closed soon after. I has since been demolished.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
The Palace Opera House opened in 1911 and operated until 1915. It was demolished and a new theatre known as Glickman’s Palace Theatre was built on the site which opened in 1919. It was re-named Globe Theatre in 1935 and closed in 1948.
As the Globe, this was run by the H&E Balaban chain. The Palace Opera House was designed by Samuel Levy, later of Levy & Klein.
Also, the Palace Opera House was apparently originally a Yiddish theater, claimed by the Tribune to be the “largest in the west”. Also it was open at least into 1951, according to a fire notice. Today this whole stretch of Blue Island Avenue has been swallowed by UIC.
I’d contest that it was demolished; newspaper ads exist in May 1914, February 1916 (As simply “Palace”), January 1917, and February 1918,. Sanborn fire insurance maps from 1917 and 1950 likewise show the building as built in 1908 and show a capacity of 1433.
The Globe had become a Mexican movie house by the 1940s, serving the large Mexican population of the Near West Side.
1912 photo & description added credit the former Calumet412 website.
“View of the Crowd lining both sides of the street in front of the Palace Opera House for a visit from President William Howard Taft A line of automobiles is visible along the curb in front of the opera house at 1139 South Blue Island Avenue in the Near South Side Community area of Chicago.”