HISTORY MAKERS | The Glen Art Theatre

HISTORICAL THEATRE IS TOUTED AS ONE OF GLEN ELLYN'S MOST UNIQUE ICON WITH A LOT OF HISTORY

According to Unique Treasures, the Glen Theatre was formerly a single screen theatre, opened in February 1927. It was designed in the Tudor Revival style by architect William B. Betts of Park Ridge and not only featured motion pictures, but live stage acts as well. It has also been said by David Moreau that there was a small shuttered bowling alley in the theater’s basement.

Prior to the location at 540 Crescent Blvd. in Glen Ellyn, Broan, an avid theatre fan, shared that there was another theatre in Glen Ellyn that opened in 1914 at 481 Main Street. This theatre was designed by George Awsumb for T. Stuart Smith and operated by Sam Bowden.

Today, the exterior of Glen Art Theatre on Crescent remains fairly the same; however, after changing ownership several times throughout the years, the 1,000-seat theatre was divided into four-200 seat auditoriums after being acquired by its current owners in the early 1980's. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on renovations and installing digital equipment over the years since.

The theatre currently shows Academy Award Winning films and other blockbusters. It has also been a star of its own as it was the backdrop in the 1986 film Lucas starring Corey Haim, Charlie Sheen, and Kerri Green when they filmed on location in Glen Ellyn.

Each year the theatre marquee remains a popular spot for prom proposals, wedding pictures, and the best date night in town. The Glen Art Theatre regularly draws customers from all over Chicagoland to see some of the finest films from all over the world.

Fun Movie Facts from KidzWorld.com

• During the Depression or the 1920s, movies cost about 27 cents.

• During the swinging '60s, it cost a little less than $1 to catch a flick.

• In the '80s, it cost about $4.00 to go to a movie.

• It now costs around $10 to go to a film.

• While the first air-conditioned movie theater was built way back in 1922, the first cup holders didn't make it into cinemas until AMC Theaters introduced them in 1981.

• The first shopping mall multiplex was built in 1963. It had two screens and sat 700 people.

• New Jersey was home to the very first drive-in theater, which was built in 1933. The drive-in peaked in popularity in the '50s and '60s but there are now less than 1000 of them left in North America.

From Filmsite.org - Greatest Films of 1927

• The Beloved Rogue

• The General

• The Jazz Singer

• The Kid Brother

• Metropolis

• Napoleon

• Seventh Heaven

• Sunrise

• The Unknown

• The Way of All Flesh

• Wings

-Kristen Kucharski