Oak Theatre

2000 N. Western Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60647

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Showing 1 - 25 of 46 comments

RickB
RickB on August 11, 2022 at 6:01 am

The redevelopment will be a five-story building with 20 residential units and street-level retail. Block Club Chicago story here.

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on August 9, 2022 at 8:00 pm

The old Oak Theater site is being redeveloped again.

Filmteknik
Filmteknik on August 3, 2019 at 4:37 pm

Hi Linda! Glad you reposted. I saved the pictures (❤️) since I figured they’d be removed but didn’t think I’d need to save the text so glad it’s back. I love reading first hand accounts.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 7, 2019 at 7:33 pm

The homeless have now set up camp in the former drive through bank lanes.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 30, 2019 at 12:23 am

The drive-thru bank on the Oak Theatre site is now permanently closed. Likely the victim of the 5/3rd Bank takeover of MB, who consolidated former MB locations and closed others completely.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on June 23, 2019 at 8:13 pm

I agree. The Admins should have just removed the racier photos, and left her comment as it applied to the history of the Oak. I hope they change their mind and return it to the comments.

Filmteknik
Filmteknik on June 23, 2019 at 8:05 pm

Not surprised the photos posted by the former Oak stripper were removed but wished her (text) reminiscences could have remained.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 17, 2019 at 7:04 pm

Posted previously:

DavidZornig on October 12, 2013 at 11:55 pm

The address needs to be changed to 2000 N. Western. Check the 1993 flier I posted in the Photos Section. Several Chicago Tribune articles from 1992 also confirm the address.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4539/photos/1323

Mister_Comics
Mister_Comics on April 17, 2019 at 5:10 pm

Newspaper ads for this theater list the address as 2004 N. Western, but papers have been known to make mistakes. See posted ad in the “Photo” section.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on February 14, 2018 at 9:38 pm

Circa 1931 photo added courtesy of the Old West Town Facebook page.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 3, 2017 at 1:26 pm

Ran across this 1992 Tribune article about the Oak’s then conversion to a music venue. Further proof on how sadly short that incarnation was to last.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-03-03/news/9201200335_1_sun-ra-texas-tornados-national-trade-magazine

GFeret
GFeret on December 28, 2016 at 10:13 am

for a long time I certainly had my full of the old Oak theatre starting in the late ‘50s, certainly the '60s and into the '70s, and at least drove past throughout the '80s. But beginning mid-'90s I wasn’t ever in the neighborhood there so not only didn’t I see it’s demolition but was quite unaware of it then. Nowadays I return often but all I get for my trouble’s a drive-through bank (admittedly my wife likes the Mexican restaurant across western), because now Sam’s red-hots is gone too. Talk about a neighborhood character upheaval

okcray
okcray on December 28, 2016 at 5:52 am

Does anyone remember the recorded messages from the late 1970s-early 1980s? You would call the phone number listed in the movie ad and you’d get the Oak Girl saying something like “Hello honey? I thought you’d never call! I’m at the Oak Theater… the show’s so good… I’ll be waiting honey!” and other messages to that effect. Apparently these were so popular that the tapes would wear out, and until the “Oak Girl” could record a new one, a man would give a general description of the theater and movies.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on May 12, 2015 at 3:47 pm

The What Was There website with the Illinois Historic Preservation Society photo from circa `75. Has a magnifier plus the Then & Now fade.

http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#!/ll/41.9177398681641,-87.6874084472656/id/6222/info/details/zoom/14/

GRANDMASTERCHUCK
GRANDMASTERCHUCK on March 30, 2014 at 2:08 am
   During the War Years 1941-1945 and before the Korean War, the Oak Theater not only showed movies of the day but had Stage Shows as well. 
                

This was during the time between the Vaudeville and Television eras, which was called the Golden Years of Movies, but the Oak Theater and a few others in Chicago, were still trying to cater to both the movie and live entertainment audiences. I can’t remember exactly how many nights a week there was live entertainment but it wasn’t every night like the Downtown venues, the Chicago, State and Lake and the Oriental Theaters. Their stage shows ran seven days a week, several times a day and night, and drew some of the top names in Radio and Movies of the day.

   My sister and I were on the circuit that included the Oak Theater with, what was called a Song and Dance Novelty Act, and we played it several times around the end of World War Two. We also played dates on just about every Saturday night at some Elks, Moose, Eagles, VFW or American Legion Hall somewhere in the city, or one of the nearby suburbs. We also entertained at the Naval Hospital at Great Lakes Navel Training Station for the wounded coming back from overseas.
                   Then came Television and that form of entertainment quickly went away. I left Chicago in 1952 at the request of my Uncle Sam and became a United States Marine, stationed in California, never to see my home town again, but I never forgot the Oak Theater and its dressing rooms back stage, and waiting in the wings to go on. We always got a warm welcome there. 
                   It was the best of times.
                
DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 12, 2013 at 10:55 pm

The address needs to be changed to 2000 N. Western. Check the 1993 flier I posted in the Photos Section. Several Chicago Tribune articles from 1992 also confirm the address.

lovinemmie
lovinemmie on April 13, 2013 at 11:07 pm

Well I remember Oak theatre so so well !!! Many good times there as a little girl .Used to go with my Mom and Dad with all of us children , this was their night out , and guess what the movies were silent movies ,with Valentinoand many others,I was so young could.nt read the lines in the picture , but still seemed to understand the movie. Later in my life as we grew up ,that was where I watched the first talkie. As children we would save the “nickel to go to the Saturday special of 20 cartoons and some live entertainment, dancers , magicians, even the chiquita banana , lady Carmen Miranda ,I remember seeing Roy Rogers also , and especially Cisco kid , she Miranda , was very famous and well known especially as"the chiquita Banana lady” the song she sang then. We did'nt have a TV, not until 1952. Times were tough then.

Broan
Broan on February 27, 2013 at 10:50 am

Looking at the demolition photos, it looks like the Oak’s interior had already been gutted – bare brick walls and open ceiling beams. Is that right?

matthew1964
matthew1964 on July 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm

THe Oak,,OMG,, I REMEMBER IT WELL,,I FIRST WENT TO THE OAK,,IN FEB,1982 THATS WHEN I TURNED 18 ,ON THE MARQUIE IT SAID HAD TO BE 18 TO ENTER,,SO ME AND A FRIEND FROM HIGHSCHOOL ,, DECIDED WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT THE OAK WAS LIKE ,,WE,VE SEEN THE PLACE A MILLION TIMES ,, BUT NEVER TRIED TO GET IN,,SO ON THE MONTH OF MY BIRTHDAY ,,WITH ID,S IN POCKET WE CREPT UP TO THE INTRANCE BEING CARE NOT TO BE SPOTTED BY ANYONE WE KNEW,SPORTING DARK,SUNGLASES (AT NIGHT),AND OUR MEMBERS ONLY JACKETS ,WE BOUGHT TICKETS ,WE DIDDNT EVEN GET ASKED FOR OUR ID,S ,,I REMEMBER THE 2 MOVIES ( THE BANGKOK CONNECTION,,AND SCRUPLES ) WE SAT IN THE 1ST ROW DECKED OUT IN NEW LEE JEANS POLO SHIRTS AND OUR JACKETS AND SUNGLASSES STILL ON ,NERVEOUS AS HELL,,, SURROUNDED BY ALL OLDER MEN IN THERE LATE 40,S AND 50,S ,,THE DANCERS WERE FUNNY ALL OLDER WOMEN ,,OLDER THAN US ,WE ONLY REMOVED THE GLASSES TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THERE BREASTS ,THEN WE PUT THEM BACK ON,,I DONT REMEMBER IF IT WAS AT THE END OR DURING INTERMISSION,, THEY HAD SOME YOUNG PORN ACTRESS ,,THERE FOR PHOTOS ,,A LITTLE GIRL,BUT CUTE ,,FOR $5.00 SHE WOULD SIT ON YOUR LAP,HER ARM AROUND YOUR NECK,AND YOUR HAND AROUND HER WAIST,,LATER IN THE YEAR OF 1992 ,I HAD A NEW GIRLFRIEND ( WIFE NOW) WHO LIKED BAD BOY BLUES THEY WERE THERE LIVE ,,WE DIDDNT GET A CHANCE TO GO REGRETABLE,,SHORTLY AFTER THAT CLOSED DOWN,,SOMETIMES WE STILL GO TO MARGIES CANDIES ,,I WILL LOOK AT THE SMALL DRIVE THRU BANK AND REMEMBER THE OAK,VERY COOL MEMMORIES THANKS,,MATT

Life's Too Short
Life's Too Short on July 29, 2012 at 9:22 am

I remember going by on the El and seeing XXX on the marquee. Later I remember going by on the El and seeing concerts on the marquee. Then once I went by on the El and it was gone. Maybe it’s too bad the Oak couldn’t have hung on a few more years. I’ve heard that smaller concert venues are making money these days.

walterbrzeski
walterbrzeski on July 28, 2012 at 4:00 pm

@Oak Theater:

I’m putting a gift together for someone of ‘The Oak’ and I would love to use any photos you have..I posted a piece I had drawn of ‘The Oak’ to use as the centerpiece of the gift. And, I found some photos here and online. But, I would love to have more.

OakTheater
OakTheater on May 24, 2012 at 12:40 pm

My parents reopened the Oak Theater in the 90’s. I have few memories of hanging out in the office during some of the shows. I will never forget running around that place in between shows and the way my voice echoed throughout the empty theater.

Most of you never noticed the floor when the theater was filled up to capacity but i remember the giant Oak Theater logo painted on the floor. My parents had a difficult time operating the Oak Theater and they had no choice but to close it.

It is a shame that it was replaced by a bank. A building with some much history and a theater that many hold dear to their heart to this day. If my parents still had it today, i would definitely be involved with operating it. I know there is a photo album somewhere. I will have to dig this up and share it.

Matthew Prigge
Matthew Prigge on May 22, 2012 at 8:27 pm

Hey everyone. I am working on a project to document the history of adult theatres in the US. If anyone has any memories of the Oak they would be willing to share, please contact me at

HughJazz – if you see this, I’d love to talk to you. I would love to talk with some people who worked at these places. I’ve read your posts and it sounds like you have lots of stories.

HughJazz
HughJazz on September 3, 2011 at 3:33 am

By the way, www.classmates.com may help you find others from Chase school.

HughJazz
HughJazz on September 3, 2011 at 3:27 am

SusanLocke, I did not attend Chase school, but I am in your “age group”. You are so lucky to have seen some of our TV Western Heroes in person! Here is some additional info: Duncan Renaldo, who played Cisco, was born in Romania. he often played “Ethnic” characters in the movies, including a WW2 Japanese Diplomat in two “Three Stooges” shorts. Leo Carillo was over seventy years old when he played “Pancho. On the Island of Hawaii, many celebrities, including Leo Carillo, have had "Banyan Trees” planted in their name on “Banyan Drive” Each banyan has a sign in front, including one for Leo. I may still have the photos somewhere. I went to McPherson Elem (1956-1965)and Amundsen HS(1965 to 1969) and lived in the Lincoln Square neighborhood at the time.