Owl Theatre
4653 S. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60609
4653 S. State Street,
Chicago,
IL
60609
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Indiana-Illinois Theaters, Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp.
Nearby Theaters
The Owl Theatre was opened in 1916, and in early advertisements, billed itself as "the most popular theatre on the South Side". It could seat 944 and originally presented vaudeville and live stage revues in addition to motion pictures.
The Owl Theatre’s house orchestra, led by Clarence M. Jones, was almost as much as a draw as the live acts and movies.
The theatre was also a well-known venue for jazz acts. It lasted into the 1950’s.
The Owl Theatre has since been demolished.
Contributed by
Bryan Krefft
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Does any one have any more information about the Illinios and Indiana Theatre chain? Thanks
In 1931, in addition to the Owl Theater, Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. acquired the following theaters:
Oakland Square
Frolic
Metropolitan
Shakespeare
Harvard
Lexington
Buckingham
Hamilton
Julian
Still open in 1954. Phone number was KEnwd 6-4472.
A street-level photo of the Owl can be seen in Sandor Demlinger’s book Chicago Jazz.
I heard the Owl Theatre was a real Hoot!!!!
The Owl was being operated by Nathan Joseph in 1956, according to an article about him in Boxoffice of March 17 that year. Joseph also operated the States Theatre at that time.
There’s a great pic of The Owl here: http://www.thebestmusicofyourlife.com/Remember-TheOwl.jpg