Portage Theater facts for kids
The Portage Theater is one of the oldest movie theaters in Chicago. It is located in the Portage Park neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side. This historic building has been a popular spot for entertainment for many years.
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Portage Park Theater
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Portage Theater
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| Address | 4050 North Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60641 United States |
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| Coordinates | 41°57′15″N 87°44′54″W / 41.954192°N 87.748371°W |
| Type | Performing Arts Center |
| Capacity | 2250 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 11, 1920 |
| Closed | 2001 |
| Reopened | 2006 |
| Architect | Lindley Phelps Rowe |
| Website | |
| http://portagetheatergroup.com/portage-theater-chicago// | |
Contents
The Portage Theater: A Historic Chicago Landmark
The Portage Theater first opened its doors on December 11, 1920. It was originally called the Portage Park Theatre. You can still see its old name on the building today. This theater was special because it was one of the first built just for showing movies. Before that, many theaters showed live stage shows called vaudeville.
A Look Inside: Design and Style
The inside of the Portage Theater is designed like an old-fashioned opera house. It has a large, megaphone-shaped main hall where people watch shows. In 1940, the theater got a new look. Its entrance and lobby were updated in a cool, modern style called Art Deco. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
From Movies to Live Shows: The Theater's Journey
For many years, the Portage Theater was a popular place for movies. In the 1960s, it started showing movies that had already been released. In the 1980s, a big change happened. A wall was built in the middle of the main hall. This created two smaller, unusual-shaped movie rooms.
The theater closed in 2001 after being open off and on for a few years. But it didn't stay closed for long! After five years, it was fixed up and reopened in 2006. It went back to being one big theater with over 1300 seats.
Today at the Portage Theater
Today, the Portage Theater is a busy place. It shows classic movies, both silent films and those with sound. It also hosts many live events. The Silent Film Society of Chicago calls the Portage Theater home. They even hold the Chicago Silent Film Festival there. Parts of the Chicago Polish Film Festival are also held at the theater.
In 2008, the theater was used to film scenes for a movie called Public Enemies. This movie was about a famous person from the 1930s. The inside of the Portage Theater was made to look like another historic theater in Chicago for the film.
