Chicago Theatre
Built in 1921 for $4 million, this is the oldest surviving grand movie palace in the country — and it still sells tickets.
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The Rapp brothers designed it in Neo-Baroque French-revival style — the oldest surviving example of that style in Chicago — as the flagship for over 100 Midwestern theaters. Today Madison Square Garden, Inc. runs it as a 3,600-seat venue for concerts, comedy, magic, and stage shows. The marquee on North State Street appears so frequently in film, television, and photography that it has been called an unofficial emblem of the city.
What to look for
- The North State Street marquee, described in the historic record as an unofficial emblem of Chicago and a recurring presence in film and photography
- Fourteen large French-themed murals surrounding the proscenium, painted by Chicago artist Louis Grell (1887–1960)
- The Neo-Baroque French-revival facade — the same Rapp brothers signature style used for their Oriental and Uptown Theatres nearby
The building is event-driven; it is not a walk-through attraction, so check the live schedule before making the trip to North State Street in the Loop.
Chicago Theatre is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Chicago, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Chicago pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Chicago
- Willis TowerIt held the world's tallest title for nearly 25 years after opening in 1973 — and the Skydeck is still the highest observation deck in the United States.
- Art Institute of ChicagoFour paintings you've seen your whole life — Nighthawks, La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, American Gothic — hang in the same building.
- John Hancock Center (875 N Michigan Ave)A moving platform pivots you 30 degrees outward over the Magnificent Mile — 1,128 feet of nothing beneath your feet.
- Aon CenterWhen it opened in 1973 as "Big Stan," this 83-floor tower was the fourth-tallest building on Earth — and clad entirely in marble.
- United CenterThe Bulls hardwood floor is literally assembled over the Blackhawks ice and taken apart game by game — two teams, one frozen surface, shared by puzzle.
- Soldier FieldThe NFL's oldest stadium lost its National Historic Landmark status because of the renovation meant to save it.