About the Music Box

For the last two decades, the Music Box Theatre has been the premiere venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD and television markets throughout the United States.

Theatre History

The Music Box Theatre opened on August 22, 1929, a time when the movie palaces in downtown Chicago had seating capacities of around 3000 people. The Music Box, which sat 800, was considered an elaborate little brother to those theatres. Theatre Architecture Magazine noted in 1929 that the theatre "represents the smaller, though charming and well equipped, sound picture theatre which is rapidly taking the place of the 'deluxe' palace"... Read More

Theatre Photos

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Original Architectural Elevations

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