James M. Nederlander Theatre

Opened May 8, 1926 on the site of the tragic Iroquois (later the Colonial) Theatre, and seating over 3,200, this was Balaban & Katz' first new Loop movie palace since the opening of the Chicago Theatre in 1921. Opening day at the Oriental Theatre included popular bandleader Paul Ash (who moved to the Oriental Theatre from B & K’s McVickers Theatre) presenting two musical reviews “Insultin' the Sultan” and “Harem-Scarem”. Harry Langdon in “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp” was the first movie to appear on the screen. Originally, ushers and other B & K employees wore costumes inspired by the “Arabian Nights”. The Oriental Theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4 manual 20 Ranks theatre organ.

The Oriental Theatre, which stands on W. Randolph Street between N. State Street and N. Dearborn Street, was for many years, in addition to live stage shows and movies, also one of Chicago’s premier destinations for live jazz performances by many of the greats of the era, including frequent performer Duke Ellington.

The Oriental Theatre thrived through the 1960’s, but by the late-1970’s, however, the Loop was no longer the entertainment destination of earlier decades, and the Oriental Theatre, like many of the other movie palaces downtown, was reduced to B-grade action and kung-fu films attended for the most part by young people. It was closed on January 4, 1981 (having last been run by the Kohlberg Theatres chain) with Lon Chaney Jr. in “The Female Bunch”. The Loop and the theatre’s fortunes had fallen into disarray. For several years, an electronics store operated in the lobby space of the Oriental Theatre while the remainder of the theatre was disused.

Shuttered for over 15 years, the Oriental Theatre was magnificently restored to its original exotic and over-the-top Indian-Indochinese style appearance in 1996 and reopened in 1998 as the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre. The theatre is now host to live Broadway stage productions. On February 12, 2019 the theatre was renamed James M. Nederlander Theatre.

The Oriental Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Recent comments (view all 207 comments)

DavidZornig on June 21, 2019 at 8:11 am

Another 9/30/77-10/06/77 Saul Smaizys photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ceebop/24204725545/in/album-72157662523920010/

DavidZornig on January 6, 2020 at 12:45 pm

YouTube link with November-December 1978 footage of the Oriental & United Artists beginning at the 2:46 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrNmKfhTPhY&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR12qM12hfzp99fRKy7NgngEwZ7QgmW266XP04zQPkqyBchzzuTQZWrhnxo

rivest266 on August 15, 2020 at 2:24 pm

This reopened by Jones, Linick & Schaefer on November 18th, 1938 with “World’s lowest prices”. Grand opening ad posted.

DavidZornig on September 21, 2020 at 7:25 am

I thought this was in the gallery but it wasn’t. 1/17/64-2/20/64 photo credit Jeanette Williams via Flickr link below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jarchie/3553050290/in/album-72157618596556846/

DavidZornig on October 1, 2020 at 6:37 pm

5/12/67-6/15/67 photo credit ZeusMeister, Zeus of Hollywood.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375157316/in/photostream/

DavidZornig on October 1, 2020 at 6:44 pm

Additional photo, 5/12/67-6/15/67 photo credit ZeusMeister, Zeus of Hollywood.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375156744/in/photostream/

DavidZornig on October 1, 2020 at 7:55 pm

Full width 8/31/66-9/22/66 photo credit Zeus Of Hollywood via Flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zeusofhollywood/3375169478?fbclid=IwAR3Uf9dwCjyg0kxhLk7zdJ9gOVXVWjIPPxAMLnziTE_qTYP1kFfxQI5H9Dc

DavidZornig on September 27, 2022 at 5:20 pm

July 27, 1968 photo credit David Wilson via Flickr. On the marquee in the background is “5 Card Stud” which held it’s World Premiere at the Oriental Theatre on July 10, 1968. Enlargeable version below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/32693718@N07/5857747381

davidcoppock on November 4, 2022 at 11:55 pm

The last movie screened here as a movie theatre was “The Female Bunch”.

DavidZornig on February 13, 2023 at 3:02 pm

Oriental marquee near head end, shot between 03/19/70-04/23/70.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41GPxxC0Mq0