Terminal Theatre

The New Terminal Theatre was one of the largest movie houses built in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. It was opened by the Ascher Bros. on January 7, 1926 with Alma Rubens in “The Gilded Butterfly”. It boasted 4,000 seats, but in reality it had 2,456 seats. It was equipped with a Wurlitzer 4 manual, 17 ranks organ which was opened by organist ‘Larry’ Ambrose Larson. It replaced the Ascher Brother’s earlier (1915) Terminal Theatre at 3308 W. Lawrence Avenue, which became the Metro Theatre after the New Terminal Theatre opened.

The New Terminal Theatre was acquired from the Aschers not long after by the always-expanding Balaban & Katz chain, which ran this popular movie house into the 1960’s. It was closed on April 18, 1963 with Bette Davis & Joan Crawford in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” & Paul Newman in “Sweet Bird of Youth”. The Terminal Theatre was demolished in the early-1970’s.

Recent comments (view all 68 comments)

Mikey on March 25, 2011 at 10:12 pm

Hi, all. Been a while.

85 years since the Terminal opened? Wow, does that make me feel ancient.

Next month will mark 48 years since it closed. Last movie they showed was “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?”

The book store next to Cooper’s was Terminal Books, an apt name for ANY store in that area. ;–)

Mike

rivest266 on June 28, 2012 at 12:47 am

This reopened on January 7th, 1926. I uploaded the grand opening ad here.

Broan on October 10, 2015 at 3:06 pm

Here is a nice view of the front.

DavidZornig on October 10, 2015 at 3:26 pm

For some reason the highlighted “Here” link erases the cursor arrow, so it can’t be clicked on.
Even when Logged In to CT.
The highlighted links in the other comments still work.

RickB on October 10, 2015 at 10:59 pm

Another try for a link to the nice view of the front.

RickB on October 10, 2015 at 11:03 pm

For some reason that link goes to the page just before the targeted page. Scroll down, folks, I’m not messing with it any more.

Broan on January 18, 2016 at 12:08 am

Here is a nice interior view from THSA. Several more are searchable there.

DavidZornig on February 18, 2021 at 4:10 pm

1963 photo with Terminal in the background.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dpirmann/48876598102?fbclid=IwAR1r2H5bhZovlsqnICRMOadFpPXbRlh_KgK_BBaUGDmD43M6EEzaSee2KqM

DavidZornig on February 18, 2021 at 8:47 pm

Update: Closed in April 1963 with “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Whatever Happened To Baby Jane”. Last Tribune clipping for the Terminal Theatre.

https://chicagotribune.newspapers.com/clip/71394366/chicago-tribune/?fbclid=IwAR31xTktO1ujm1p0sKvd2BK2HvELs9YOCz7ITCXQH6pn8Llx8wpwAfnpBPc

rivest266 on February 19, 2021 at 8:01 pm

18 Apr 1963, Thu Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) Newspapers.com