Owl Theatre

4653 S. State Street,
Chicago, IL 60609

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Indiana-Illinois Theaters, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.

Nearby Theaters

OWL Theatre; Chicago, Illinois.

The Owl Theatre was opened in 1916, and in early advertisements, billed itself as "the most popular theatre on the South Side". It could seat 944 and originally presented vaudeville and live stage revues in addition to motion pictures.

The Owl Theatre’s house orchestra, led by Clarence M. Jones, was almost as much as a draw as the live acts and movies.

The theatre was also a well-known venue for jazz acts. It lasted into the 1950’s.

The Owl Theatre has since been demolished.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

CHICTH74
CHICTH74 on June 11, 2006 at 8:06 pm

Does any one have any more information about the Illinios and Indiana Theatre chain? Thanks

Englewood
Englewood on September 12, 2007 at 10:00 pm

In 1931, in addition to the Owl Theater, Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. acquired the following theaters:

Oakland Square
Frolic
Metropolitan
Shakespeare
Harvard
Lexington
Buckingham
Hamilton
Julian

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 26, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Still open in 1954. Phone number was KEnwd 6-4472.

WayOutWardell
WayOutWardell on April 14, 2009 at 2:34 pm

A street-level photo of the Owl can be seen in Sandor Demlinger’s book Chicago Jazz.

TLSLOEWS
TLSLOEWS on February 19, 2010 at 10:14 am

I heard the Owl Theatre was a real Hoot!!!!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on April 9, 2010 at 6:13 pm

The Owl was being operated by Nathan Joseph in 1956, according to an article about him in Boxoffice of March 17 that year. Joseph also operated the States Theatre at that time.

Jerrieee
Jerrieee on July 14, 2012 at 9:19 am

There’s a great pic of The Owl here: http://www.thebestmusicofyourlife.com/Remember-TheOwl.jpg

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