Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.)

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Downtown Chicago theater and National Historic Landmark.

Ferdinand Peck, Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler began plans for the Auditorium Building in 1886 and on October 5, 1887, the cornerstone was laid. The Auditorium Theater opened in 1889 and was immediately acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and functional theaters in the world. Its architectural integrity and perfect acoustics were internationally recognized. It was often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. For several years, the Auditorium Theater, hotel and office block were used and profitable. The theater was the first home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Civic Opera Company. Concerts, recitals, lectures, charity balls, social gatherings and sporting events took place in the theater. In 1893 new hotels were built all over the city for the guests of the World's Fair. Many of these new hotels included bathrooms in every room, making the Auditorium Hotel one of the last European-Style hotels built in the city. The common bathroom made the Auditorium Hotel less desirable to the elite guests. In 1904 the Symphony moved to a new smaller home, Orchestra Hall, and the Chicago Opera Company moved to the Civic Opera House in 1929. In the early 1930s, estimates were taken to demolish the building, but the cost of the demolition was more than the land was worth. [Source: Auditorium Theater website, August 2009] The Auditorium Theater is currently owned by Roosevelt University.

From the description of Auditorium Theater programs, 1888-1938. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 682913412

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.). Programs, unbound and arranged by years, 1890- . Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.). Programs, bound and arranged by years, 1906-1909. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Souvenir programs for theaters, theatrical companies, and clubs, 1892-1978. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Young Men's Hebrew Charity Association collection, 1898. University of Illinois at Chicago Library, UIC
referencedIn Moore, Ruth E. Ruth E. Moore papers, 1955-1970. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Programs of operas, unbound and arranged by years. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Adler and Sullivan. [Mosaic decoration] [graphic]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Auditorium Theatre Council (Chicago, Ill.). Auditorium Theatre Council (Chicago, Ill.) records, 1960-1982. Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Gerard, Paula, 1907-1991. Paula Gerard Renison dance sketches [graphic] Newberry Library
creatorOf Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.). Auditorium Theater programs, 1888-1938. Newberry Library
referencedIn Monroe, Harriet, 1860-1936. Harriet Monroe memorabilia, 1891. Newberry Library
creatorOf Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.). Programs, 1893. University of Florida
referencedIn Adler, Dankmar, 1844-1900. Dankmar Adler papers, 1857-1984. Newberry Library
creatorOf Adams, Milward, 1857-1923. Milward Adams photograph collection [graphic] Newberry Library
referencedIn Gleason, Frederic Grant, 1848-1903. Frederic Grant Gleason papers, 1852-1908. Newberry Library
referencedIn Dawson, Mitchell, 1890-1956. Mitchell Dawson papers, 1810-1988. Newberry Library
referencedIn Programme, 1895 Mar 13 [manuscript] : Romeo et Juliette. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Ahrens, Robert J., 1923-2003. Robert J. Ahrens papers, 1958-1981. Chicago History Museum
creatorOf Auditorium Theater (Chicago, Ill.). [Programs and announcements of events held in the Auditorium Theatre after its renovation and opening in October, 1967]. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Programs for ballet performances in Chicago area, 1910-1941. Chicago History Museum
referencedIn Adler and Sullivan. [Mosaic wall decoration] [graphic]. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Milward, 1857-1923. person
associatedWith Adler and Sullivan. corporateBody
associatedWith Adler, Dankmar, 1844-1900. person
associatedWith Ahrens, Robert J., 1923-2003. person
associatedWith Apollo Musical Club of Chicago. corporateBody
associatedWith Auditorium Theatre (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Auditorium Theatre (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Auditorium Theatre Council (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Century of Progress International Exposition (1933-1934 : Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Chicago Civic Opera (Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
associatedWith Chicago Symphony Orchestra. corporateBody
associatedWith Dawson, Mitchell, 1890-1956. person
associatedWith Gerard, Paula, 1907-1991. person
associatedWith Gleason, Frederic Grant, 1848-1903. person
associatedWith Midwest Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Monroe, Harriet, 1860-1936. person
associatedWith Moore, Ruth E. person
associatedWith Newberry Library. corporateBody
associatedWith World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Illinois--Chicago
Illinois--Chicago
Chicago (Ill.)
Illinois--Chicago
Illinois--Chicago
Illinois--Chicago
Chicago (Ill.)
Subject
Theater
Theater
Theater
Theater
Concert programs
Music
Opera
Programs
Theater programs
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1888

Active 1938

Information

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Ark ID: w61c60jc

SNAC ID: 46321179