Harris and Selwyn Theaters

“Sam H. Harris had been a partner of George M. Cohan who owned the Grand Opera House in Chicago, then called George M. Cohan's Grand Opera House. Harris was also a partner of Irving Berlin and together they owned the Music Box Theater in New York City where the famous "Music Box Revue" was performed during the 1921-22 theater season.”

“After the war he helped in the re-building of London, designing housing, factories, and industrial facilities. Crane was considered a distinguished international architect and was nominated as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects shortly before his death.”

“The State Lake Theater was also used for a variety of vaudeville shows during this period. The Harris and Selwyn Theaters The Harris Theater was built by Sam Harris, and the Selwyn was built by Archie and Edgar Selwyn, all prominent New York producers.”

“A terra-cotta volute marks the top of each arch. A flat disk-like ornament is set into each arch. Like its neighbor, the Selwyn facade is topped by an entablature with the name of the theater incised into it.”

“The facade of the Harris employs Italian Renaissance details, while that of the Selwyn is based on later English classical styles. The theaters were built at a time when legitimate theater flourished in Chicago and stage productions abounded.”

“The Harris is based on Italian Renaissance precedents and the Selwyn on later English classical styles. Each facade consists of a wide central section flanked on either side by a corner block.”

“Corinthian pilasters flank the arches in different patterns on each facade. Of the two facades, the Harris is the more simply treated. Continuous banded rustication marks the facade of the Harris.”

“They were of a subdued and classical architectural style rather than the extravagant styles of many other theaters of the time. The theaters were known for the warm and intimate atmosphere which made viewing the stage productions a pleasurable experience.”