Criterion Theatre
1222 N. Sedgwick Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1222 N. Sedgwick Street,
Chicago,
IL
60610
1 person
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Architects: George Otis Garnsey, Cornelius Ward Rapp, George W. Leslie Rapp
Firms: Rapp & Rapp
Previous Names: Sittner's Criterion Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located in the Near North Side neighborhood of Chicago, on N. Sedgwick Street, between W. Division Street and W. Scott Street, not far from Seward Park. Originally built and opened in 1881 and designed by architect George O. Garnsey with seating for 1,700. It was remodeled and reopened on July 1, 1893 as a vaudeville theatre.
Paul Sittner originally opened his first movie theatre on the third floor of a retail building at 335 W. North Avenue on the Near North Side in 1910. Sittner’s Theatre appears to have moved to a new larger space in the Criterion Theatre on N. Sedgwick Street by 1913 or 1914, and it was first advertised as Sittner’s Criterion Theatre until 1917. The theatre could seat 1,254, but seating was reduced to 1,050 by the time it closed in the early-1930’s. It was demolished in 1934 and the site became a car park. A Jewel Food Store (or more specifically, its parking lot) is on the site of the theatre today.
Contributed by
Bryan
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
Rapp & Rapp may have worked on this theater. https://books.google.com/books?id=d1ZOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA860&dq=theater+kohl+rapp&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBGoVChMIl6Kj9aXeyAIVxmImCh3APwyf#v=onepage&q=theater%20kohl%20rapp&f=false
Photo of the Criterion Theatre with Sittner’s added, circa 1913 based on the license plates. Getty image.