originally known landmark theater located chicago illinois united_states built flagship group theaters run brother partner theaters dominant movie theater enterprise currently madison square garden owns operates performing arts venue stage plays magic shows comedy speeches popular music concerts building added national_register_of_historic_places june listed chicago landmark january distinctive unofficial emblem city appears frequently film television artwork photography history grand opening growth decline sam founders theater chain built large chain motion picture houses theater flagship theaters city operated conjunction chain primary architects final construction cost million million dollars brothers designed properties chicago including oriental preceded demolished new_york_city largest costly super deluxe movie palaces built date oldest surviving grand movie palace earliest theaters nation built signature french revival style oldest surviving example style chicago original interior decoration auditorium included fourteen large romantic french themed murals surrounding chicago artist common feature architects included movie palace designs opened october seat theater promoted capacity crowds packed theater opening week feature sign door starring attractions included piece orchestra famed rank theatre organ yes mighty recalled live stage poet reporting chicago_tribune wrote mounted police required crowd control theater strategy movie patrons environment notch service including pioneering use air conditioning emulated nationwide years operation presented premiere films live entertainment existence performers stars day live appearances theater biggest draws live jazz promoted early september special event called week proved successful jazz bands programming 1920s 1930s preparation world fair chicago world fair renovation included commission enclosed fourteen murals time chose greek roman deities theme large oil canvas murals public exhibit today theatre auditorium building associated popular culture occasions example ronald_reagan announced engagement theater modernization occurred 1950s management discontinued stage shows economic social changes 1970s business theatre slowed owner affecting ongoing viability purchased theater adjoining million million today group attempted maintain venue picture theater unable remain facility closed september restoration commenced renovation buildings completed cost million million million million spent theatre renovation architects interior design restored 1930s appearance seating capacity theatre reopened september performance marking culmination year historic preservation effort championed gala reopening symbolic performed theater 1950s restoration adjoining page building chicago landmark provided office space support theatre theater like neighbor important component plan theatre district plans far mayor plan april purchased building million trademark property new_york madison square garden entertainment announced october buy theater prior theater hosted annual opening film festivities moved nearby mayor declared july chicago dedicated plaque honor theater featured book grandson original owner permitted terms sale dictated city vertical chicago sign added indicate sponsorship architecture structure seven stories tall fills nearly half city block foot wide story tall arch motif façade compared paris central arch headed window familiar motif false perspective window reveals floor rome coat arms chain horses holding film mouths outlined border film set inside circular stained glass window inside arch exterior building covered white architectural supplied designs interior shows french baroque influence second french empire grand lobby stories high surrounded gallery balcony levels influence grand staircase patterned grand balcony levels company supplied interior decorations including furniture crystal bronze light fixtures fitted glass shades designed built stage dimensions exceed feet width feet depth orchestra pit approximately feet stage level feet wide stage lip depth feet center pit filler performances requiring levels time building application national_register_of_historic_places designation venue replaced twice original basic facilitated lines text announcements ornate flashing colored lights included milk glass letter attraction boards chicago large letters sides replacement similar second attraction boards larger chicago lettering appeared sale entire replaced retains look predecessor original donated featured numerous movies shows set chicago neon font title film chicago organ theatre known grand pipe organ time installed known mighty imitate instruments orchestra noted performer attributed person responsible design choice sounds organ came july ranks pipes restored organ expanded organ ranks time oldest existence
Chicago Theatre