chicago theatre

If there is one thing that everyone who was raised going to the theatre remembers or anyone who loves studying the history of a city and the cities architecture is the city’s original theatres.  Not only are theatres memorable and things that everyone remembers whether it is from school field trips to the symphony or family trips at christmas time to see Scrooge in A Christmas Carol or even the ballet for the Nutcracker when you were a kid.

People all recognize and remember the sign and the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York and one of the most memorable signs for people that don’t even live in Chicago is the old and historic Chicago Theatre.  Old Theatres like the Chicago Theatre have so much history in them.

Not only have they had thousands of celebrities come through them but they have also hosted everything from parties to productions to concerts, comedians, plays, ballets, musicals and everything else.  In cities like Chicago they even usually offer tours on off hours so you get to see how everything works, the trap doors, the green rooms that the celebrities and stars get ready in and even learn some of the behind the scenes information that no one else gets to know unless they take the tour.

There is nothing like going into an old theatre and seeing the amazing designs and gorgeous architecture and detail that goes into these buildings.  I love the decorations, the statues, the chandeliers and everything else that we used to value and consider classy and upscale.  It seems like no one dresses up for the theatre anymore, they allow people to chew gum or bring food in and in London they even charge you to get a playbill so you can see who is in the cast and what they did before they were in the show you were watching.  It is kind of sad that people don’t have the same respect for the theatre that they used to, but at the same time I love being able to wear jeans and a regular shirt to the theatre and even though I also have eaten while watching a show, at least I try to be quiet about it.

If you have a favorite old theatre or want to share a picture of it, feel free to post a picture in the comments below or send me one by leaving your email address in the comments section below.  Don’t worry about your email going live since I moderate each post before it goes live.