The cinema came into its own as a form of entertainment during the first two decades of the twentieth century, and movies took over and expanded the number of theaters downtown. As films came to be mass produced for screening, however, they were soon seen all over the city. By 1926 an explosion in the number of movie houses had occurred, bringing them to most city neighborhoods. The vast majority outside downtown were located on major arterial streets, studding the commercial shopping strips that lined them. Nevertheless, by far the largest concentration was in the Loop business core. By 1937, the geographical dispersion of the movie palaces had reached its apogee. Large theaters with over 3,000 seats could be found on West Madison, Belmont, Lincoln, and 63rd. The Loop's dominance, still intact, was by then already diminishing. Sixty-five years later, in 2002, the exodus of movie theaters to the suburbs that began after the Second World War was well advanced, and only 29 remained within the city of Chicago, a mere two in the Loop.

Authors: Michael P. Conzen and Christopher P. Thale
Source: Newberry Library