Admiral Theatre
3940 W. Lawrence Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60625
3940 W. Lawrence Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60625
6 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Balaban & Katz Corp.
Firms: Gallup and Joy
Functions: Live Performances
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
773.478.8111
Nearby Theaters
The 1,500-seat Admiral Theatre opened on March 31, 1927 with Helen Chadwick “Stolen Pleasures”. It was a showcase for both vaudeville and motion pictures. It was equipped with a Marr & Colton 3 manual 10 ranks organ. On January 1, 1942, the theatre was acquired by the Balaban & Katz chain.
By the mid-1950’s, the Admiral Theatre was closed due to declining business. On August 29, 1969 it reopened its doors, strangely enough, screening only cartoons, with admission for a quarter. Predictably, this venture didn’t pan out, and within a couple months, closed.
On December 26, 1969, the Admiral Theatre reopened again, this time showing pornographic films. In the summer of 1987, the theatre received a makeover, and restored some of the original décor. About the same time, the focus of the Admiral Theatre went from films on the screen to live entertainment, and received the more proper designation as a “gentleman’s club”, as it remains today.
Contributed by
Ray Martinez
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Recent comments (view all 23 comments)
My porno filter at work did not like that website. Have to wait until I get home.
Drove by yesterday, the Admiral has re-done its entrance in a more sympathetic way – more of the terra cotta is now exposed and a lot of that EFIS stucco is gone.
The Admiral wins an award for being a good neighbor.
Exterior photo included…
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ae-stormy-daniels-admiral-show-kogan-sidewalks-0603-20180530-story.html
“Admiral Theatre sues over PPP loan delay, alleges regulations violate first amendment.”
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/5/8/21252758/admiral-theatre-lawsuit-ppp-loans-corinavirus-first-amendment-strip-club?fbclid=IwAR0u4XE6YwBIhS0e60pZqKAvZ6ljLgoC1zQV9qiS5lh5TaMAaHEbTvzf65g
The Admiral theatre opened on March 31st, 1927 with “Stolen Pleasures”.
Shown up in the Balaban & Katz on January 1st, 1942. No special ad found.
The Admiral Theatre reopened on Friday, August 29, 1969 as a regular neighborhood movie theatre. It started showing “Adults Only” movies on Friday, December 26, 1969. The Admiral remained open as an adult theatre until the Summer of 1987.
Judging by the old Chicago Tribune ads, it seems like the Admiral opened a double feature of THE WRECKING CREW plus PENDULUM on Friday, December 19, 1969; closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and then reopened on Friday, December 26, 1969 with the new Adult film policy. It was soft core adult films, initially. I’m not sure when the hard core porno films started rolling in. Possibly 1970 or 1971.
Official website & Facebook page for the Admiral Theatre.
https://admiralx.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ue5qpPSup8Df-l_U1dvkxc2PjDLro3vFKRPLpHFH8wgL5zx7dQeCZA28
https://www.facebook.com/admiralx