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The Chicago Theatre
Chicago Theatre
Located in Chicago's Loop area (downtown Chicago), the Chicago Theatre hosts various different performances ranging from classical plays to magic shows and everything in between including live concerts and, at one time, movies.
This is definitely the theater to go to when in Chicago. There's always something new and interesting to watch and take part in. Plus, you get to go home and say "I saw Frank Sinatra at the Chicago Theatre;" well, although we can no longer hear Mr. Sinatra sing live, there are still other great performers that take stage in the Chicago's great theater.
History of the Chicago Theatre
The theater that cost nearly $4 million to construct, was opened on October 26, 1921. Abe and Barney Balaban built the theater with the help of Sam and Morris Katz. Together this quartet, created what would become the flagship of theaters
Within the first 40 years after opening, the Chicago Theatre drew its biggest crowd of jazz musicians. But since then, the theater has had performers wide and vary.
Here is a small listing of a few of the performers who have graced the stage of the Chicago Theater:
- John Phillip Sousa
- Frank Sinatra
- Duke Ellington
- Judy Garland
- Bob Hope
- Benny Goodman
- Ella Fitzgerald
And since it was refurbished, the theater has seen more of today's more popular culture, such as:
- David Letterman
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Robin Williams
- Prince
- Coldplay
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Barry White
- Christina Aguilera
- Neil Young
- Aretha Franklin
- Liza Minnelli
- Dolly Parton
- Indigo Girls
Trivia
Things that happened at the Chicago Theater.
- Ronald Reagan publicly announced his engagement to Ms. Jane Wyman.
- Al Capone got control over all of the projectionists and stagehands unions, while he, also, extorted money from the Balaban and Katz chain that founded the theater.
- Hosted the Chicago International Film Festival and a few of the National Press Club events.
- Mayor Richard Daley declared that July 12th "Roger Ebert Day in Chicago," and he dedicated a plaque in his honor.