Join our friends at Forgotten Chicago (http://forgottenchicago.com/) and two of Chicago’s preeminent historians for a one-night-only presentation on the history and legacy of more than a century of movie theaters in Chicago. Hosted byWard Miller, Executive Director of Preservation Chicago (http://www.preservationchicago.org/), and including a presentation by acclaimed author, editor, and Northwestern University’s Distinguished Senior Lecturer Bill Savage, this event will take place in the historic 1920 Portage Theater seen above, a Six Corners landmark that recently reopened after being closed for more than a year.



Our program will also include an exclusive presentation on many of Chicago’s overlooked and forgotten movie theaters, many hiding in plain site. Using Forgotten Chicago’s vast database of non-digitized images, most not seen in decades, we’ll examine what remains of many of these historic theaters. One of these overlooked former theaters is the former Cine on West Devon Avenue, seen above left and center. which opened in 1937, closed more than 60 years ago, but remains standing and altered today. We will also take a look at the many theaters that once dotted the Loop such as the State-Lake, built two years before the Chicago Theater across the street, closed in 1985, and whose former entrance lobby is now the sidewalk-facing television studios of ABC7 / WLS-TV.



We hope you are able join us for what we expect to be a lively and informative event celebrating movie going in Chicago!



Event Details:



When? Tuesday, July 15th. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and event begins at 7:00 p.m. A reception with a cash bar will follow at 9:00 p.m.



Where? The Portage Theater is at 4050 North Milwaukee Avenue and is one mile west of the Irving Park CTA Blue Line station. Free parking for the Portage is available in the Sears parking lot on North Cicero Avenue.



How much? $5 suggested donation.