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Oak Theatre
2000 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago,
IL
60647
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favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: David Saul Klafter, John Edmund Oldaker Pridmore
Styles: Art Deco, Gothic Revival
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 23, 2007 — Chicago Theatre information help
The Oak Theatre opened in 1910, in the Logan Square neighborhood, as a vaudeville and movie house. It was designed by J.E.O. Pridmore. The theatre featured a balcony, and large stage, with Moorish interior decor. The exterior, of red brick, featured an elaborate terra-cotta facade in Neo-Gothic style.
The theater was remodeled in 1930 in Art Deco style by David Saul Klafter. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, it became an adult theater.
In 1992, it reopened as a concert venue. However, in 1995, it closed again, and was torn down that same year. A drive-thru bank was located on the site of the Oak Theatre, but had closed by June 2019.
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Recent comments (view all 46 comments)
Circa 1931 photo added courtesy of the Old West Town Facebook page.
Newspaper ads for this theater list the address as 2004 N. Western, but papers have been known to make mistakes. See posted ad in the “Photo” section.
Posted previously:
DavidZornig on October 12, 2013 at 11:55 pm
The address needs to be changed to 2000 N. Western. Check the 1993 flier I posted in the Photos Section. Several Chicago Tribune articles from 1992 also confirm the address.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4539/photos/1323
Not surprised the photos posted by the former Oak stripper were removed but wished her (text) reminiscences could have remained.
I agree. The Admins should have just removed the racier photos, and left her comment as it applied to the history of the Oak. I hope they change their mind and return it to the comments.
The drive-thru bank on the Oak Theatre site is now permanently closed. Likely the victim of the 5/3rd Bank takeover of MB, who consolidated former MB locations and closed others completely.
The homeless have now set up camp in the former drive through bank lanes.
Hi Linda! Glad you reposted. I saved the pictures (❤️) since I figured they’d be removed but didn’t think I’d need to save the text so glad it’s back. I love reading first hand accounts.
The old Oak Theater site is being redeveloped again.
The redevelopment will be a five-story building with 20 residential units and street-level retail. Block Club Chicago story here.