Chelten Theatre

7945 S. Exchange Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60649

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Gollos Brothers

Architects: William B. Betts

Firms: Betts & Holcomb

Functions: Church

Styles: Spanish Moorish

Previous Names: Cine Chelten

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Chelten Theatre

This movie house in the South Shore neighborhood of Chicago opened on January 21, 1928. It was located on S. Exchange Avenue, near E. 79th Street.

During the 1940’s and 1950’s, the theatre was run by Gollos Brothers Theatres. The Chelten Theatre closed in 1978 as a movie house, last showing Spanish-language features. It served as a church for many years after closing as a movie theatre.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 22 comments)

Rolando
Rolando on May 6, 2009 at 9:25 pm

Doea anyone know what happened to the Evergreen Theaters (there were three screens); the Jeffrey and Beverly?

mikeroman
mikeroman on February 2, 2010 at 7:32 pm

I recall watching with my friends “How I Won the War” and “The Battle of Britain” at the Chelten Theatre back in the late ‘60s and early '70’s.
My band The Tellstars also performed there in conjunction with an appearance we had made at the Gayety Theatre in South Chicago.
According to news reports, the Gayety Theatre was gutted by an arson fire in May 1982 and the Chelten was the only theatre left in the area, but it closed down as well. Both theatres at one point were leased or owned by Ricardo Ruiz and his wife who apparently didn’t want or know how to maintain these precious historical land marks.
For more information, please visit www.tellstars.com

Mike Roman, Esq.
Chicago, Il.

Rolando
Rolando on February 2, 2010 at 8:34 pm

Thanks for the info Mike. The Chelten was my neighborhood theater, having seen “Funny Girl”, “Hello, Dolly”, “Anne of a Thousand Days”, “The Out-of-Towners” among many others. Good memories. Never went to the Gaiety since I didn’t speak Spanish, but I loved the banana ice-cream they sold in the long carboard containers.

Broan
Broan on January 13, 2011 at 6:05 am

Architects were Betts & Holcomb

beautifulmorning
beautifulmorning on February 1, 2012 at 5:10 am

My late mother collected dishes – a rose pattern – on “dish night” from this movie theater in the 50’s. Does anyone remember that or why they gave them out?

RiisPark
RiisPark on March 13, 2013 at 1:30 am

Dishes were a popular premium back in the 50’s that movie theatres used to lure people back each week to the show. One week you’d get a cup and if you wanted a saucer you’d have to come back the next week—and so on and so on.

Broan
Broan on October 18, 2015 at 8:29 pm

Here is a nice article and photos of the Chelten

Rolando
Rolando on October 19, 2015 at 12:45 am

Cool article on the Chelten Broan.

rivest266
rivest266 on August 11, 2020 at 11:37 pm

The Chelten theatre opened on January 21st, 1928. Grand opening ad posted.

Rolando
Rolando on August 13, 2020 at 4:14 pm

Thanks for that information rivest266.

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