NRA Theatre

5744 S. Prairie Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60637

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Alfred Hamburger Theaters

Architects: Ralph C. Harris

Previous Names: Prairie Theatre

Nearby Theaters

The Prairie Theatre opened in 1915 in the Washington Park neighborhood, on S. Prairie Avenue, between E. 57th Street and E. 58th Street, just a couple blocks from Washington Park itself.

It originally was part of the Alfred Hamburger circuit, which included the Argmore, Gayety and 20th Century, among others. The Prairie Theatre was renamed the NRA Theatre in 1936 and continued to operate until 1952.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

cmari
cmari on February 28, 2014 at 1:01 pm

Never thought I’d find this. I lived at 57th and Calumet when I was a child and the NRA was my favorite place to go with my Godmother. In fun, she used to call it the national rat alley because it was old.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on May 1, 2018 at 5:10 am

The October 23, 1915, issue of The American Contractor said that a two-story building, 75x162 feet, to house a theater, stores, and offices was under construction at 5746-5752 S. Prairie Avenue. It was one of several projects underway by developers Kusel & Harris. Ralph C. Harris was the architect.

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