Congress Theater

Congress Theater Soundex Code C526

A mix of architectural styles (including Adam and Italian Baroque), this theater has an elaborate large domed auditorium and is covered with decorations in stone, Terra cotta, and plaster. It remains remarkably intact, down to the original light fixtures and marble wainscoting.

The Congress was built for the Lubliner & Trinz theater chain. On its opening day, Sunday, September 5, 1926, there were parades, band concerts, and a bathing beauty contest. The first movie shown at the Congress was "Rolling Home", a Reginald Denny comedy, as well as five vaudeville acts. In November 1929, the Congress was taken over by the Balaban & Katz chain.

In the 1970s, the Congress was renamed Teatro Azteca, and screened Spanish-language films. Movies continued to be shown at the Congress through the 1980s. By the 1990s, the theater hosted live Latin acts, boxing matches, and an occasional film.

In 2000, the theater was threatened by demolition (for proposed condominiums), but the neighborhood rallied to the its defense. On Monday, July 10, 2002, the Congress Theater was declared a Chicago Landmark.

Today, this splendid survivor of the movie palace era functions as one of Chicago's grandest concert venues.