Archer Theatre

2008 W. 35th Street,
Chicago, IL 60609

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Schoenstadt

Architects: Henry L. Newhouse

Functions: Retail

Nearby Theaters

Archer Theater building, Circa 1970

This Bridgeport neighborhood theatre opened in 1910, located on 35th Street, near the intersection of Archer Avenue and Damen Avenue. The Archer Theatre was one of the many theatres of the South Side’s Schoenstadt circuit.

The Archer Theatre closed in 1950. The building currently houses a restaurant/refrigeration equipment business.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 8 comments)

CHICTH74
CHICTH74 on February 21, 2006 at 1:49 am

This theatre is now i think a resturant sulpy store,on the front of the store if you look close you can see the theatre outline of whare the marquee was and whare the doors and the ticket booth stood.

Broan
Broan on September 4, 2007 at 4:36 pm

The earliest references I can find to the Archer in the Tribune are in January 1914. I do see a Grand Theater at 35th and Archer in 1912.

mfs3757
mfs3757 on November 7, 2009 at 11:01 pm

This was in Mc Kinley Park, not Bridgeport. Bridgeport is east of Ashland and this is on Damen.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 30, 2011 at 7:56 am

Google Maps has put this Henry Newhouse-designed theater in the wrong neighborhood. The actual location of 2010 W. 35th Street is between Damen and Archer Avenues, about two and a half miles mile west of where Google has placed its pin icon.

The Archer Theatre was under construction when this notice was published in the September 3, 1910, issue of The American Contractor: “Theater & 2-Store Building (class 4. 1100 seating cap.): 1 sty. 75x125. $40,000. W. 35th st. & Archer av. Architect Henry L. Newhouse, 4630 Prairie av. Owner Archer Amusement Association, care architect. Plastering let to Chas. Seaberg, 1302 Addison st. Up to second story.”

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 30, 2011 at 8:11 am

Also, the Archer has not been demolished. The front has been remodeled, but you can still see the brick side and rear walls of the theater in Google Street View along the block of Damen north of 35th. There is a stage house, so it probably hosted vaudeville as well as movies in its early years.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on November 30, 2011 at 9:40 am

Broan: The Grand Theatre you found mentioned in 1912 might have been the unnamed house that was under construction in 1910 at 3512-14-18 Archer, according to an item in The American Contractor of July 3, 1910. It was designed by architect George O. Garnsey. 3514 Archer now houses an auto and truck garage called Mike’s Services, but it is clearly an old building. The top of a stage house is visible in Google Street View. This theater is not yet listed at Cinema Treasures.

Broan
Broan on November 30, 2011 at 1:22 pm

I remember noticing that theatre on Archer before. I’m surprised I never put the two together.

Broan
Broan on November 30, 2011 at 1:25 pm

I think the mapping problem is due to it being listed as 2008-10 instead of 2008-2010.

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