Erie Theatre
641 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
641 N. Clark Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1 person
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Orpheum Circuit
Previous Names: Town Talkie, French Casino, Encore Theatre
Nearby Theaters
This River North neighborhood theatre, located on N. Clark Street at W. Erie Street, sat just over 600. The Erie Theatre was opened by 1909. By 1926 it was operated by the Orpheum Circuit. It was later known as the Town Talkie, seems to have closed in 1942. It was converted into the French Casino, a burlesque theatre. By 1960 it had become a legitimate playhouse named Encore Theatre.
A Walgreen’s has since been constructed on the site of the former theatre.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 3 comments)
The Erie suffered fires in 1912 and 1925. The Erie Amusement Company in 1911 also owned the Huron at 703 N Clark and the Republic at 3916 N Lincoln. The Erie was known as the Town Talkie at least from 1932-1938.
Check out lantern.mediahistory.org as you research these theaters, you can find a lot of stuff the Tribune might have missed.
A 1925 Tribune article on the fire which started in the basement notes that the building was a north side landmark, serving as Brand’s Hall, a dance hall, going back to 1877. A lithograph of Brand’s Hall (not the corner building, but next to it) is at http://nucius.org/graphics-engravings/brands-hall-chicago-1883/
Two images added as French Casino and Encore Theatre.
The latter’s signage would follow Encore Theatre to their next location at 1419 N. Wells in the early `60s.