Fine Arts Building (Chicago) facts for kids
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Studebaker Building
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(2011)
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 Location in Chicago Loop
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| Location | 410–418 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | Solon Beman |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000653 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1975 |
The Fine Arts Building, also known as the Studebaker Building, is a historic ten-story building in Chicago. It stands at 410 South Michigan Avenue and faces Grant Park. This building is part of the Historic Michigan Boulevard District, a special area in Chicago.
The Studebaker company built this amazing building in 1884–1885. Solon Spencer Beman, a famous architect, designed it. Studebaker first used the building to sell and fix carriages. They also made carriages on the upper floors.
Later, in 1898, the building was changed a lot. Solon Beman added three new stories, making it taller. He also removed the old top floor. The main entrance has two huge granite columns. These columns are about 3 feet 8 inches (1.1 meters) wide and 12 feet 10 inches (3.9 meters) tall. People said they were the biggest polished stone columns in the country!
Inside, the building is decorated with beautiful Art Nouveau designs. Many artists painted murals there during the 1898 changes. These artists included Martha Susan Baker and Frederic Clay Bartlett. In the early 1900s, shops run by women, like the Kalo Shop, opened here. They sold special handmade items.
Today, the Fine Arts Building is still a center for the arts. It has studios for artists, art galleries, and places for theater and dance. You can also find recording studios and businesses that design websites. Many music and art groups have offices here. The building became a Chicago Landmark on June 7, 1978.
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Studebaker Theatre: A Historic Stage
The Studebaker Building is home to the Studebaker Theatre. It is also known as Studebaker Hall. This theater first opened in 1898. Many famous performances have taken place here.
Early Performances and Broadcasts
In 1901, a singer named David Bispham gave a special concert here. He sang only songs by Carrie Jacobs-Bond. Later, in 1931, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra performed the "Grand Canyon Suite" for the first time. The theater also hosted some of the very first live television shows. One show was "Cavalcade of Stars" from the DuMont Television Network.
Theater's Transformation and Reopening
In the 1970s, the theater was changed into a movie theater with many screens. But in 2015, work began to turn it back into a live theater. It reopened in 2016 and can now seat 740 people.
In 2017, the Studebaker Theatre hosted the first show of A&A BALLET’s "The Art Deco Nutcracker." The Chicago Tribune newspaper called it a "glossy rendition" with "gorgeous, glitzy costumes."
Chicago Little Theatre: A Movement Begins
From 1912 to 1917, the Fine Arts Building was home to the Chicago Little Theatre. This theater is famous for starting the "Little Theatre Movement" in the United States. This movement encouraged small, independent theaters.
The co-producers, Maurice Browne and Ellen Van Volkenburg, could not afford the building's main auditorium. So, they rented a large storage room on the fourth floor. They turned this space into a small theater with 91 seats.
See also
In Spanish: Fine Arts Building (Chicago) para niños
