The Music Box Theater

The Music Box Theater, located at 3733 N Southport Ave in Chicago, is one of the oldest movie theaters in Chicago. 

This old-fashioned theater opened on August 22nd, 1929 to the public, and is still thriving now, in 2023. 

Not only does the theater show old and new movies alike, but they have several events including “The 40th Annual Music Box Sing-a-long” and the “double feature movie week”. 

This is the theater that seats exactly 700 people. The seats are often sold out at full capacity.

According to the current manager, Ryan Oestreich, the most popular event of the year is the 24-hour movie marathon that takes place during October called “Music Box of Horrors”.

This music box theater has maintained its original architecture for almost 100 years. The theaters are set up with a painted blue ceiling that mimics a night sky, as to make the moviegoers feel as though they are outside.

With some renovations made, at The Music Box, you will find two theaters, one that seats 700 people and one that seats 70. You will also find a lounge with an extensive VHS tape collection, and, during the summer, an outdoor garden where they set up movies outside. 

In the lounge area of the theater, you will find an extensive collection of VHS tapes. They have events where they play the tapes. This is just one of the two racks of VHS tapes.

When the music box started, it was considered a second or third-run theater. Except for independent movies, which were available to be premiered as a first-run film at The Music Box. 

“When the movie theater started, the distributors were also studios that owned theaters”. Said Oestreich. “Fox owned its theater, Paramount owned its theaters, Warner Brothers owned its theaters, and so all of those movies went to their theaters first. So for most of the first half of the music box theater life, it was a second and third run house.” 

This theater has a long and extensive history with Chicago and currently donates its ticket funds to Chicago Public Schools and non-profits throughout the Chicago Land Area. 

The Music Box Theater is a place for people to come together and enjoy a movie. It has survived the test of time and continues to provide Chicago with a one-of-a-kind, old-fashioned movie theater.

The Music Box Theater, one of the oldest movie theaters in Chicago is located at 3733 N Southport Ave.