Lincoln Hall

I’m sorry but the 3 Penny was a dump. Lack of parking also played a major part in this venue’s inability to do a decent business. There are several smaller theaters in the area (like the Davis) that seem to be able to meet their tax obligations just fine.

The 3 Penny Cinema did not have the Chicago premiere of “DEEP THROAT”. That distinction goes to the Town theatre (aka Park West). The 3 Penny did show- I think first run- “THE DEVIL IN MISS JONES” , another notorious -and wildly popular- X rated film.

Please refer to my above comment about the city’s tax structure. The 8% amusement tax from the city simply makes it hard for the little guy to stay in business. Why can’t these taxes be on a sliding scale? The full amount for larger corporations like AMC and Keresotas, less for smaller chains like Village and for the indy guys.

But according to the Crain’s article in the above post, the opening of Landmark’s Century Cinema really put a dent into this guy’s business, although I wonder whether or not the 3 Penny saw an increase in patronage after the closure of the Biograph.

The Three Penny is closed, at least temporarily. Large stickers reading ‘Business Closed By Order of City of Chicago 6-20-2006 Office of Business Affairs and Licensing’ are on the doors. The website says the closing is temporary.

I went here to see NEIL YOUNG, HEART OF GOLD tonight. Unfortunatley, this theatre may not be around mcuh longer. I was talking to the owner and he said that they City of Chicago is trying to force him out of business. He is having trouble meeting the city amusement tax, which is gouging him.

When are cities like Chicago going to learn that if you want small businesses to succeed, you DON’T tax them to death? Chicago has become a place where only Starbucks and McDonalds can succeed and not some neighborhood coffee house or burger joint.

The Three Penny has character, reasonable prices, inexpensive concessions and plays great films. Sigh! I guess this means that we must get rid of it immediately!

In 1914, ads refer to the theater as ‘Fullerton’. Perhaps the Crest name came later.

The thing I can’t understand is how can 3 Penny keep surviving but Biograph seemed unable to stay afloat? It is not like I want 3 Penny to close anything but the Biograph is across the street and people seemed like they just didn’t want to go to Biograph .

A chciago reader article on Jim Burrows indicates that it wasn’t actually twinned until December, 1989

I’d be interested in how the 3 Penny looks now as well. Though I haven’t been there in over 25 years I can tell you that during the 70’s it didn’t have a “70’s” vibe. As I recall it the theater was little more than a big box. Seems it had those old wooden theater seats too. Or am I imagining that?

I remember the 3 Penny from when I lived in Chicago. It ran many offbeat films that you just couldn’t see anywhere else. The theater was definitely lacking in frills. Often when we missed the start of a feature across the street at the Biograph we’d end up at the 3 Penny. Last film I saw there was Dawn of the Dead by George Romero. It’s still one of my favorite zombie films. I guess that was 1978-79.
I can see it as a nickelodeon. At the time I figured it was a theater that somone just didn’t spend much money on designing or building. Being from 1912 the theater design seems much more appropriate.