Congress Theater

“The Congress Theater was recognized as “significant to the community" by the Chicago Historic Resources Survey (1996). It was included in Great American Movie Theaters, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1987.”

“The Congress Theater, with its 2,904-seat auditorium, is one of the most intact surviving neighborhood movie "palaces" in Chicago dating from the boom years of the 1920s. More than 30 movie theaters of similar size and lavishness once existed in the city's neighborhoods; fewer than a half-dozen remain.”

“The Congress Theater's interior is noteworthy for the lavishness, in both space and detailing, of its lobbies and auditorium. The two major spaces, the four-story main lobby and the auditorium with its dramatic saucer dome, are remarkably intact.”

“Very few movie "palace” theaters remain in Chicago's neighborhoods; the Congress Theater is one of the finest and most intact. HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CONGRESS THEATER The Congress Theater was designed in 1925 for Lubliner & Trinz, who operated one of Chicago's largest movie theater chains during the 1920s.”

“Its facade would be richly detailed with terra cotta while a lighted marquee and giant sign proclaimed the theater's presence for blocks. Upon entering, a patron experienced a grand lobby, sweeping staircases, and lavish auditorium.”

“Its fine details, including pilasters, low-relief sculptures, round-arched windows, and triangular pediment, are designed in a combination of the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance architectural styles. The theater interior forms a grand progression of spaces noteworthy for its visual lavishness.”

“The Congress Theater interior is noteworthy for being remarkably intact and is one of the city's few remaining neighborhood theater interiors to survive. Most of the theater's historic interior features remain, including both decorative wall surfaces and building elements such as ticket booths, doors, staircases, and light fixtures.”

“Its elaborate four-story theater entrance is an outstanding example of detailing and craftsmanship in terra cotta, designed in a combination of the Classical Revival and Italian Renaissance architectural styles.”

“With interiors detailed with elaborate stone and plaster work, decorative metal light fixtures, and plush seats, these theaters became in effect extensions of the films being shown, with their often exotic storylines and locales.”

“The theater's interior is phenomenal in the survival of almost all of its significant features. The sequence of significant spaces (outer vestibule, main and inner lobbies, and auditorium) remains intact.”