Academy Theatre
16 S. Halsted Street,
Chicago,
IL
60661
16 S. Halsted Street,
Chicago,
IL
60661
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Additional Info
Architects: Oscar Cobb, Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Previous Names: Academy of Music, Bijou Academy
Nearby Theaters
Opened in 1878 as the Academy of Music with 2,450-seats. It was located on S. Halsted Street, near W. Madison Street and Academy Place. It was designed by architect Oscar Cobb. Around 1910 it was remodeled to the plans of architectural firm Rapp & Rapp. This Near West Side neighborhood theater lasted at least through the 1940’s before closing when its seating capacity had been reduced to 962-seats. It was demolished long ago.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
There was apparently an early mural of Alfonso Iannelli’s here. Chicago Tribune, 4/7/1916 p20
A corbis caption claims: “Photo shows the old Academy of Music, 16 South Halsted street, which was the first theater in the world to be lighted electrically, causing temporary chaos among the actors, who refused to go on, behind the bright footlights, not being properly "made up' properly.” It was built in 1878 and Oscar Cobb was architect. Originally held 2,450 seats.
Unfortunately linking to corbis doesn’t seem to work. You’d have to search for VV7531
The Academy of Music in Chicago is listed in the 1897-98 edition of the Julius Cahn Official Theatrical Guide. E.P. Simpson was Mgr. and it had 2,450 seats. There was an orchestra floor and 2 balconies, and ticket prices ranged from 10 cents to 50 cents. The proscenium opening was 30 feet wide X 33 feet high, and the stage was 32 feet deep. The theatre was on the ground floor and there were 10 in the house orchestra.
This June 1930 item in the Chicago Tribune calls the theater the Bijou Academy:
Harry Parker, a chauffeur, was sentenced to twenty days in the county jail for contempt yesterday by Judge Hayes in the Superior court for giving perjured testimony. Parker was a witness in the $50,000 damage suit brought against the Bijou Academy theater, 16 South Halsted street.
Hmmm. I wonder if this place is where that Catholic Charities Thrift Store was until just recently. Just North of Dugan’s and across from Walgreens.
The thrift store building had very high tin ceilings, and a massive freight elevator in the rear. The 2nd floor was divided up kind of strangely too.
Here is a THSA picture
This was remodeled by Rapp & Rapp prior to 1912. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=iau.31858020077685&view=1up&seq=62&skin=2021&q1=rapp