Follies Theater

450 S. State Street,
Chicago, IL 60605

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Additional Info

Previous Names: London Dime Museum, Gem Theater, Follies Burlesque

Nearby Theaters

1941 photo courtesy of Darla Zailskas.

Formerly the London Dime Museum, which was in operation from at least the early-1890’s, managed by ‘Captain’ John White, and featured a vaudeville house on the main floor and an ‘oddities’ museum on the upper floor. The building became the Gem Theater in 1908. It was renamed Gem Theater from 1908 through to 1949. In 1929, the Gem Theatre began to feature burlesque in addition to movies. It stood directly across the street from the landmark Second Leiter Building, later the first Loop home of the flagship Sears, Roebuck, & Co. department store (now located at Madison Street and State Street).

By early-1950, the name of the theater was changed to the Follies Theater, also known as the Follies Burlesque. It lasted until 1972, when the management started showing hard-core pornography in order to keep in operation. It reopened in 1974 for legitimate theatrical use, but after one performance, the theater was closed again. “Deep Throat” was showing here in 1977. The Follies Theater was destroyed in a fire on January 4, 1978.

Today, the enormous Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago’s main library building, is located on the site of the theater.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft, BWChicago

Recent comments (view all 25 comments)

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 25, 2015 at 8:02 pm

Just got confirmation the squad car is 1975. The white squads first appeared April of 75. So the Follies was open after74, contrary to the Overview.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 28, 2015 at 6:34 pm

Circa 1940 photo courtesy of Darla Zailskas.

RickB
RickB on March 29, 2015 at 12:03 pm

Link to the Tribune’s story on the Follies fire.

On November 14, 1974, the Follies was one of four Chicago adult theaters targeted by a bomber or bombers.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on January 23, 2016 at 8:45 pm

1970 photo added courtesy of Jack McCabe.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 10, 2017 at 6:57 am

9/16/77 Sun-Times movie section added with the Follies ad in the lower left hand corner. Note they used “D-T' for "Deep Throat”. This also helps date the previously posted photo with “Deep Throat” on the marquee. So the Overview can be changed from 1975 to 1977 as far as the showing of that film at the Follies.

Image courtesy of Tim O'Neill.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 28, 2019 at 11:33 am

Post fire 5/19/1978 photo added credit Karl H. Lemke.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on March 24, 2021 at 11:22 am

1978 pre-fire UIC library Digital Collections photo.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/uicdigital/7980059123?fbclid=IwAR0LU4zlKVO1xV7mHHB9hzV7KJTNDb7_6-KMKP2ZGkLGbIVdB3HUiIK4Vbg

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 6, 2021 at 8:18 am

Update: The fire that destroyed the Follies Theater was Wednesday January 4, 1978. Following day Chicago Tribune news coverage and image added.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on November 26, 2021 at 11:11 am

Video of the Follies marquee lit at night in 1966.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/lighted-signs-advertise-a-burlesque-theater-in-chicago-news-footage/1270653476?adppopup=true&fbclid=IwAR1TSKMCmHufUCaTK-gafSLGsiAjkIM-UQpRly09Qoxgvh0pXITwJfIZM-0

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 15, 2023 at 10:05 am

Follies marquee can be seen in the below film “The Street” 1953.

https://www.gospelfilmsarchive.com/street.htm?fbclid=IwAR0MqWt6g0kVsdn7tE3xj1gIcaX3G4R4dra1qYe0xjj5xLlpoDZFZI37Ve4

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