The Chicago Theatre has anchored State Street in the Loop since it opened on October 26, 1921, its towering marquee becoming one of the most photographed symbols of the city. Designed by the architecture firm Rapp & Rapp, the theater was built as a movie palace in the French Baroque style, with a five-story grand lobby modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles.
Today the Chicago Theatre operates as a live entertainment venue owned by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, hosting concerts, comedy shows, and stage productions. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1983, preserving its ornate interior and its 60-foot triumphal-arch facade for generations of performers and audiences.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 175 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois
- Type: Historic theater / concert hall
- Opened: October 26, 1921
- Architect: Rapp & Rapp
- Capacity: About 3,600
- Owner/Operator: Madison Square Garden Entertainment
- Famous for: Its iconic marquee and 1986 reopening concert by Frank Sinatra
A Movie Palace Turned Concert Hall
Built for $4 million and opened as a flagship movie palace, the Chicago Theatre originally seated nearly 3,880 patrons beneath murals painted by artist Louis Grell. Its lobby staircase and grand hall drew comparisons to European royal architecture, and the venue quickly became a showcase stop for vaudeville and early film premieres.
As movie attendance declined, the theater shifted toward live entertainment, closing briefly before a major 1986 restoration reopened it as a concert and stage venue. Frank Sinatra headlined the reopening, cementing the theater’s transition into one of Chicago’s premier music stages.
A Chicago Icon
The theater’s six-story marquee, emblazoned with a vertical ‘CHICAGO’ sign, is one of the most recognized emblems of the city and appears constantly in film, television, and tourism imagery. Inside, the original Wurlitzer pipe organ, installed in 1921, remains part of the theater’s historic character.
Notable moments at the venue include Ronald Reagan’s on-stage announcement of his engagement to actress Jane Wyman. With landmark status secured since the early 1980s, the Chicago Theatre continues to host touring musicians, comedians, and theatrical productions in a setting largely unchanged from its 1920s grandeur.
Explore more: Explore more Music Venues.
Chicago Theatre FAQs
When did the Chicago Theatre open?
The Chicago Theatre opened on October 26, 1921, as a movie and vaudeville palace designed by the architecture firm Rapp & Rapp.
How many people does the Chicago Theatre hold?
The venue seats about 3,600 guests for concerts and stage events today.
Is the Chicago Theatre a historic landmark?
Yes. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and designated an official Chicago Landmark in 1983.
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Photo: Daniel Schwen / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.