Cinema Annex

LouRugani on April 17, 2026 at 4:02 pm

Feb 01, 1961:
ROSSEN TAKES OVER ASHLAND AVE. THEATER

John A. Rossen, chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Fair Play for Cuba committee, is president of a corporation operating the American theater at 8 N. Ashland, it was disclosed this week.

Rossen is the former Communist party organizer who once operated the Cinema Annex theater near Kedzie and Madison, which specialized in the showing of Russian films, many criticized as being Red propaganda.

Rossen, who was a columnist for the Daily Worker, Russian propaganda newspaper, also publishes the Maverick, regarded as a pro-Communist newspaper.

Rossen is listed as president of Empresas Latinas Inc., chartered April 12, 1960, to show Latin and Spanish films at the American theater. Julio Partillo is secretary-treasurer and Fred Rodrigues is manager. Both were associated with Rossen at the Senate theater after he left the Cinema Annex.