West Theatre
2743 W. Cermak Road,
Chicago,
IL
60608
2743 W. Cermak Road,
Chicago,
IL
60608
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Goodman & Harrison Theatres
Functions: Office Space
Previous Names: Parkway Theatre, Western Theatre, New Western Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened in 1917 as the Parkway Theatre and later renamed the Western Theatre, this North Lawndale neighborhood theatre stood on W. 22nd Street (later renamed W. Cermak Road) at S. Fairfield Avenue, not far from Douglas Park. By 1923, it had become a dance hall, but a year later, shows up as the New Western Theatre. Finally renamed the West Theatre, it was operated from the 1940’s at least into the mid-1950’s as part of the Goodman & Harrison chain.
Today, the building which housed the West Theatre is used as a real estate office. Its elegant terra-cotta decorated facade with an arch over the main entrance is still unmistakably theatrical in appearance.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft, BWChicago
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/repowers/2669312486/
The theater as it currently appears. Some ornamental cresting is pretty clearly missing from the roofline above the arch.
Here is a photo of the theater while serving as the Galaxia Ballroom
Showtime TV series, “Shameless” filmed several scenes on site and across the street at California Ave. And Cermak Rd.
This theater was initially built for Edward Kounovsky at a cost of $91,000. Before opening, it was to be known as the Fairfield. Kounovsky had built the nearby Douglas in 1910.
Old newspaper ads show the address as 2745 W. Cermak. Newspapers have been known to make mistakes.
https://archive.org/details/exhibitorsherald21unse/page/n1381/mode/1up?view=theater