West Theatre

2743 W. Cermak Road,
Chicago, IL 60608

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Goodman & Harrison Theatres

Functions: Office Space

Previous Names: Parkway Theatre, Western Theatre, New Western Theatre

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West Theatre

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

Recent comments (view all 6 comments)

repowers
repowers on July 14, 2008 at 10:55 pm

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.

Broan
Broan on July 28, 2011 at 5:10 am

Here is a photo of the theater while serving as the Galaxia Ballroom

ktsmith2557
ktsmith2557 on March 23, 2013 at 4:18 pm

Showtime TV series, “Shameless” filmed several scenes on site and across the street at California Ave. And Cermak Rd.

Broan
Broan on February 28, 2017 at 3:09 pm

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.

Mister_Comics
Mister_Comics on October 7, 2017 at 5:35 pm

Old newspaper ads show the address as 2745 W. Cermak. Newspapers have been known to make mistakes.

Broan
Broan on September 17, 2023 at 3:09 pm

https://archive.org/details/exhibitorsherald21unse/page/n1381/mode/1up?view=theater

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