In this edition of the “Scared Houses Series,” we would like to pay homage to the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, USA, as we continue to celebrate and honor notable movie theaters around the globe.
The ‘Music Box’ Theatre opened August 22, 1929, in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood at 3733 N. Southport Avenue.. Designed by architects Edward Steinborn and Louis I. Simon, it was originally intended to be called the “New Blaine Theater,” and seat between 750–800 moviegoers. Opening night premiered the film “Mother’s Boy”.
The Theatre thrived like many movie houses in North America until the mid to late 1970s, when it started to struggle and eventually became an adult movie theater. In the case of the Music Box, it was forced to close as a standard movie theater around 1978. Subsequently, the theater began to program films that alternated between Spanish-language, Arabic-language, and adult films.
It wasn’t until 1983 that Robert Chaney, Christopher Carlo, and Stan Hightower formed the Music Box Theatre Corporation and restored the venue as a double-feature revival and repertory cinema. During this period, the theater expanded its lineup to include foreign, independent, and cult films, with repertory programming moved to weekend matinees and midnight slots.
Since 1986, the building has been owned by William Schopf. In 2003, operations were transferred to the Southport Music Box Corporation, which also established Music Box Films in 2007, a distributor of independent and foreign films. The Music Box Theatre has become a cherished institution for Chicagoans, offering a diverse selection of films, including classic, indie, foreign, and silent films (often accompanied by live organ music), as well as cult midnight events and festivals like the annual 70mm Film Festival.
In 1991, the Theatre expanded by adding a 100-seat venue, known as “Theatre 2.” A bar and lounge were introduced next to the original Theatre in 2015. In 2018, the marquee was replaced with a replica of the original design from the Theatre’s opening in 1929.
In 2024, the Theatre celebrated its 95th anniversary. Today, the Music Box Theatre stands as a testament to cinematic tradition, architectural artistry, and enduring community support, recognized as a cultural landmark in Chicago. Check them out HERE
*If anyone wants to send me one of their tasty 70mm t-shirts? Just saying…
If you know of a theater that deserves recognition in our “Sacred Houses” series, please contact us and provide details about its location, name, and significance to you or your community. We are passionate about supporting local theaters and believe they should be celebrated alongside the more well-known historic venues.
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