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A Brief History and Photos:

The Des Plaines Theatre was built in 1925 as the northwest flagship for the suburban Chicago Polka Brothers circuit of Maywood. It was constructed by businessman and saloon owner Barney Winkelmann on the site of the retirement residence of Socrates Rand, Des Plaines' first settler.

The Spanish Baroque Revival building is the only known theatre designed by Betts & Holcomb departing from the Tudor aesthetic, with ebullient polychrome Terra Cotta. The theater's success prompted the Polkas to build the larger Pickwick in neighboring Park Ridge.

After successfully hosting the likes of Gene Autry in vaudeville and film, the theater was purchased by H&E Balaban, a spinoff of Balaban & Katz, in 1935, and received a streamline redecoration by Pereira & Pereira, including the distinctive marquee. The theater remained a popular first-run and discount house until a 1982 fire damaged the building's storefronts.

Although the theater itself suffered little damage, it remained closed for a year, and business never fully recovered. After a series of sales, the theater was twinned in 1987 by Kohlberg Theaters, with much of the décor obscured by walls, a dropped ceiling, and flat black paint, and became newly popular for bargain-basement late runs. However, this attracted a certain element, and the theater closed after a patron was stabbed in the lobby in 1997.

The next year, Jim and June Burrows of Chicago, refurbished the theater for first-runs, but were unable to shake the theater's reputation. It then transitioned to Bollywood, closing for a period when a bank purchased it, planning to demolish it for a new drive-through.

The Des Plaines Theater Preservation Society was formed to oppose this effort and support restoration as a performing arts center, and the bank's plans were dropped. The theater was sold to the Bollywood operator, receiving some refurbishments through the efforts of the Preservation Society, who has continued to advocate for restoration and reuse.

1925

One Month after Grand Opening, October 1925

Des Plaines Theatre,  January 1986

All above photographs provided by the Des Plaines Historical Society

Des Plaines Theater, February 1989

This 1983 photo is the ONLY photo we have of the Theatre's interior before it was divided in 1987. If you have any other historical materials or stories you'd like to share, please contact us!
(Photo courtesy of Des Plaines Journal)