OLYMPIC Theatre; Cicero, Illinois.

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HISTORIC SITE
OLYMPIC THEATRE
6134-6146 W. CERMAK ROAD
1927 TO PRESENT

The Olympic Theatre Building opened in 1927 after two years under construction. It was built by Sokol Slavsky, a Czechoslovakian organization that focuses on physical training, to serve Cicero’s large population of Czech birth and ancestry.

(Sokol is Czech for “falcon” a symbol of strength, harmony and freedom. Sokol is English for people handed by heritage and interest.)

Combining athletic and entertainment facilities with commercial operation, it was the largest and most modern Sokol building in the world. The block-kung structure comprised a gymnasium, swimming pool and auditorium with a 36-foot stage. More than 1500 members trained in gymnastics and other sports. On the ground level were shops, a banquet hall and restaurant.

From the beginning, the auditorium has served as a ballroom and then a theatre. Upon entering, a grand staircase leads to a lobby richly-decorated with gold leaf and fine plasterwork. Ornamental arches surround the theatre. Above the stage is a mural depicting the goddess of music, literature, and art. The artist and decorator, John Mallin who is of Czech descent, designed the mural above the stage and did other decorations in both the theater and the lobby. Early performances ranged from vaudeville to opera, In 1939, the theatre was adapted for motion pictures and it remained a cinema until the 1980s. Today, it is again used for live entertainment.

LARRY DOMINICK

PRESIDENT (FEBRUARY 2012)

HONORING MORE THAN 150 YEARS