NORTOWN THEATRE

With a seating capacity of 2086, the Nortown Theatre (6320 N. Western Avenue, Chicago) was designed by J.E. Pridmore and opened on April 4th, 1931 as part of the Balaban and Katz chain of theatres.  Known for its nautical motif (sea horses, mermaids, whales and zodiac motifs), the theatre also housed a 3/15 Wurlitzer theater organ.

After an unsuccessful triplexing in 1984, the theater closed in 1990 and was rented out as a community center and later as a church.  

Unfortunately, the Nortown was demolished in June-August 2007.  

The following two plaster friezes are documented in the archival photo below by Russell Phillips.

The Plaster Frieze is available for purchase.

Nortown Theatre Staircase RUSSELL B. PHILLIPS (not for sale)

Nortown Theatre Staircase, RUSSELL B. PHILLIPS (not for sale)

DuPage Theatre, Lombard, IL

This 900 seat theatre opened on July 28, 1928 and was designed by R.G. Wolff of Rapp and Rapp.     The DuPage Theater played classic films and featured performances and radio shows by Gene Autry, Pat Butram and George Gobel.  

The theatre was designed with a Spanish renaissance theme.   This nautical shell flanked fluted columns in the lobby of the theatre. 

The theatre was demolished in May, 2007 after years of controversy by members the community and preservationists.  

Crews work to demolish the DuPage Theatre the day in 2007 that a court ruled against preservationists. (Chicago Tribune photo by Antonio Perez / May 10, 2007)