Congress Theater
2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
2135 N. Milwaukee Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
15 people
favorited this theater
Showing 26 - 50 of 86 comments
According to the article here, the renovations have begun! Currently they are working on the front facade repairing the brickwork (approx. $550,000). No timetable yet for when the interior work will begin. It will be a $55,000,000 project including the entire building which was landmarked by the city in 2002.
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20151103/logan-square/finally-signs-of-life-at-historic-congress-theater
I wonder where Balaban & Katz got the money to buy out two major chains in Chicago in the late 20’s. Lubliner & Trinz and the Marks Bros. Where they both ripe for take over? Or did they have too much debt?
1929 photo added courtesy of the Logan Square Preservation Facebook page.
Some great photos in this story about the Congress renovation. http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2015/01/26/one-last-look-at-the-congress-theater-before-its-big-makeover.php
I wonder how this will affect the Uptown theater project with the Congress, Portage & Patio doing live shows also.
The Congress Theatre for the last year has been caught up in a legal battle between developer Michael Moyer and event promoters who claimed to have the right of first refusal to purchase the property after its previous owner Eddie Carranza finally gave up his fight with the city and Alderman Proco “Joe” Moreno and decided to sell the historic building. However WBEZ reports that Moyer is set to close on the Congress Theater sometime in the next 60 to 90 days. In a press release, Alderman Moreno revealed that the redevelopment of the theater will also include a small inn and affordable housing units. According to previous estimates, repairs to the Congress Theater could cost up to $20 million and take years to restore. Moyer, who previously redeveloped the downtown Cadillac Palace, will work with Woodhouse Tinucci Architects and W.E. O'Neil Construction on the Congress Theater project. To kick off the beginning of the Congress' new life, Alderman Moreno and New Congress, LLC will hold an open house at the theater on Saturday, January 24 from 1-4pm.
Is the Congress Theatre close?? Their website is down.
A sale of the Congress is announced, but there are complications—two other entities say they have right of first refusal. WBEZ story here.
City’s Liquor Control Commission moves to revoke liquor license. Carranza says he’ll appeal, but he is also mulling a sale of the theater. DNAInfo story here.
New charges. Liquor license in jeopardy:
http://chicagoist.com/2013/01/21/bad_behavior_of_congress_theater_se.php
One of these days Carranza is going to run out of luck.
Good article, sums up the whole rotten mess really good, I would'nt want that guy living next door to me!
It’s nice to see the building is going to be renovated. Regarding the Portage: I seriously doubt the seats would be kept. Every converted old theater in the city that I am aware of removed them from the main floor.
I REMEMBER GOING TO TO CONGRESS JUST 1 TIME IN 1968 MY DAD TOOK ME TO SEE A CHRISTMAS MOVIE ,,I REMEMBER SANTA CLAUSE IN IT ,,THATS IT,, MY DAD USE TO GO SEE THE OLD SPAGHETTE WESTERS THERE ,,SOMETIME AFTER THAT IT TURNED INTO TO THE MEXICO THEATER,,
I would only be against them taking over the Portage, if they insist on removing the seats. The neighborhood is still a movie going clientele. One of the main reasons there was such opposition to the church. If they remove the seats to make it a concert venue only, it will be the same as if the church had taken it over anyway. There will be no way to run classic films or staged events without seats.
Some great photos from 2000 are here
The Congress Theater made the Chicago news today after a young woman, unable to enter the theatre for a concert on New Years' Eve due to lack of proper ID, was the victim of a violent crime. The crime may or may not result in investigations concerning security issues for the venue.
David: I curated an exhibit for the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival this year on historic cinematic architecture. I would love to be put in touch with the projectionist’s daughter if possible or, at least, hear some of those stories – maybe snag a picture or two!
I met the daughter of one of 2 original Congress Theater projectionists, yesterday at my aunt’s nursing home. I’m going to quiz her about stories & maybe some pictures at a later date. Her dad was Fred Galluzzo. The 2nd was a man named Sam, whose last name she couldn’t recall. They used to drop their dad at work, so they could keep the car for the day.
In response to Sepctrum, that is the way the Congress has always looked: very shallow balcony.
The Congress made the news this morning. Apparently Chuck Berry collapsed and had to be helped off stage during his show last night. But returned later to a thinning crowd.
At 84, he had supposedly done 2 New Years shows the night before in New York.
One story has him being checked out by paramedics before the Congress show. Only to fall ill during it as well.
He left in a limo though, not an ambulance.
From those recent photos it looks like the shelf balcony has been removed.
View link
The Congress Theater was featured on the October 21, 2009 episode of the paranormal show “Ghost Hunters”. The show can be seen in its entirety at www.syfy.com/ghosthunters
Here is another 1982 photo:
http://tinyurl.com/d4b97h
I didn' realize that the blade letters were removed prior to `82. For the record, that used car lot pictured is also now gone. Maybe within the last 3-4 years.