Byrd Theatre
4740 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60644
4740 W. Madison Street,
Chicago,
IL
60644
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August 29th, 1930, grand reopening ad posted.
The Madison Square theatre opened on November 7th, 1917 and by the end of 1917 it became part of the L & T chain. Grand opening ad posted.
The San Fillippo Foundation in Barrington, Il. purchased the decal recently that was located above the marquee of the Byrd theater. They placed it above the stage and displayed it at their annual Christmas party/show… I could not make it out for I was sitting in the balcony. Does anyone remember it? I did not. I was always too busy reading the marquee. It was large. Next time I go, I will make a point to study it. It wasn’t Admiral Byrd.
Remember watching many films at the Byrd in the late 1940s to 1961, when our family moved. Saw Disney’s “Peter Pan” there in 1952, when I was 9 years old.
On November 7, 1917 the MADISON SQUARE Theatre opened, seating 2,000 people and owned by the West End Amusement Company, which also controled the Virginia and Crawford Theaters. The West End Amusement Company was formed by William E. Heaney (vice-president of the Illinois Branch of MPEL of America and manager of the Virginia and Crawford theaters), his father James B. Heaney, J. D. Murphy, and H. A., Paul A. and John Arm- strong. There was a $6,000 Wangerin & Weickhardt pipe organ. Admissions were 10 and 15 cents including the war tax.
The Bryd was renamed “PEPE” in the last years. They just put the letters over the BRYD name and showed Spanish films. I was long gone by then, but I do have a picture with the PEPE name. I wish I knew how to post a picture on this page. The Bryd was a fun place to see all your friends and scream together for the horror flicks..
Hi Anita! I remember seeing the horror film “Them” at the Byrd. The theater was full of kids and it was a blast on Saturdays. Usually double bills and drive-in type of movies. I have been afraid of ants ever since! I thought I saw “King Kong” there on a re-re-release or it could have been the State. Went to every movie theater on Madison St. all the time sometimes two in a day via the streetcar lines. I loved all the candy :Milk Duds. Halloway bars and of course the real butter popcorn…..Um-m-m-m-m.
I saw The Jolson Story, Jolson Sings Again, Singing in the Rain, and Wizard of Oz at the Byrd. They showed a lot of films that were in rerelease.
(July 24, 1947) LICENSE DRIVE HITS 7 LOCAL MOVIE HOUSES
When the city’s drive on license violators hit theaters last week, seven West Side movie houses made quick amends in their admission prices. In view of speedy corrections of the violations, Judge Cecil Smith discharged the cases.
Theaters affected and their maximum prices were: Tiffin, 4045 North, 40 cents; West End, 121 N. Cicero, 40 cents; Byrd, 4730 Madison, 40 cents; Symphony, 4921 Chicago, 40 cents; Crawford, 19 S. Crawford, 40 cents; K and C, 306 S, Cicero, 25 cents; and the Plaisance, 466 N. Parkside, 40 cents.
The Byrd was open as late as July 1967. From the Chicago Sun Times on Saturday, July 1, 1967: BYRD OPEN 1:30 – “THE PAD” “VALLEY OF MYSTERY”.
I was an usher at the Byrd in the early 1960’s. In fact I was the only usher. Worked only on weekends. Use to let my friends in the side doors. They use to run movies for weeks on end. I remember the Guns of Navarrone and a really old one called Naughty Marrietta with Janet McDonald and Nelson Eddy. It was a musical
There was a theatre on Roosevelt Rd. called the RENA. It was open at least through March 1964. Perhaps that’s what you’re thinking of, G. Feret. From the Sun Times movie directory dated Sat. March 28, 1964: RENA 4015 W. Roosevelt- Open 1:00 “MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES” Vincent Price “COMEDY OF TERRORS” & “SUMMER HOLIDAY” Cliff Richard.
Well then, if the BYRD didn’t change name to RENO, where exactly was THE RENO??? I was sure this was it, and I WAS there, or very near closeby. Somebody please tell me I’m not imagining….THE RENO.
The Byrd was open at least through September 1964. From the Chicago Sun Times movie listings on Sat. Sept. 12, 1964: BYRD 4730 West Madison Open 1:30 MA 6-8188 THE BEATLES “A HARD DAY’S NIGHT” Tab Hunter “GOLDEN ARROW”. The same double feature was also playing at the Imperial,Marshall Square, Tiffin,Montclare, Ramova, Maryland, Met, Granada, Century, and Riviera theatres.
Chicago Tribune ad for Friday August 29, 1930 announces: “Attend the opening of one of these wonder talkie theaters! Byrd, Madison at Cicero, Chicago’s Wonder Talkie Theater!
If the BYRD was open that late, and I agree it could, the name would actually have been the RENO. I also was there sometime then (saw RETURN OF THE FLY).
Actually, the Byrd was open in the early sixties, I remember seeing
Hud there and also The Prize.
Bill DeMar