Cine Theatre
2516 W. Devon Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60659
2516 W. Devon Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60659
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp.
Architects: George W. Leslie Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Functions: Restaurant
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Nearby Theaters
The Rapp & Rapp-designed Cine Theatre was opened in 1937 in the neighborhood of West Rogers Park, on W. Devon Avenue at N. Maplewood Avenue. The Cine Theatre closed in 1953 and was converted into a Boys World clothing store. The former theatre has housed an Indian restaurant for many years.
Contributed by
filmking, Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 17 comments)
Wow, I hadn’t realized this placed didn’t even make it twenty years.
I’m also glad to see that they finally cleaned up the scar left by that glass brick tower.
September 9th, 1937 grand opening ad posted here.
Wow, that vertical, glass block pylon — or tower — was so impressive that Owens-Illinois Glass Company used the installation in advertising for their Insulux Glass Block. I guess architects Rapp & Rapp were ahead of their time! It’s a shame this portion of the building was destroyed!
I uploaded the July 1938 Owens-Illinois Glass Company image, in case the 2009 link goes dead.
1937 photo added courtesy of Michael Murphy.
The Cine Theatre was converted into the Boys' World clothing store.
1200 seats?! Wow! Closed in 1953? Too much competition from the nearby Nortown? Or the advent of television?
Balaban and Katz’s Ciné opened on September 5, 1937 with “The Last Train from Madrid” and “Wings Over Honolulu.” The Ciné closed on April 22, 1951 with Wendell Corey in “Great Missouri Raid” and Donald O'Connor in “Double Crossbones.”
The Lind Brothers Trio - Murray, Phil and David - primarily known for radio and TV - purchased the theatre and converted to the Boy’s World clothing store. at its launch on August 20, 1952, actors Guy Madison (“Wild Bill Hickock”) and Andy Devine (“Jingles”) joined the Linds for the festive launch. It has since become a Senior Center with the shape of the building still looking very theatre-like.
The restaurant has been gone since at least 2019. Function is: Senior Center.