Originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, the Chicago Theatre is a national landmark in Chicago, Illinois.  It used to be a popular movie theater, but is now a performing arts venue for stage plays, concerts, magic shows, comedy shows, and speeches.  The marquee is iconic, an “unofficial emblem of the city,” and makes many appearances in television, movies, and pictures.

It was on this day, October 26, 1921, that the Chicago Theatre, nicknamed “Wonder Theatre of the World,” opened in Chicago.  The building was the first in the nation to be built in Rapp and Rapp’s signature Neo-Baroque French-revival style cost four million dollars to construct.  The 3,880 seat theater opened to a packed crowd to view the film The Sign on the Door.

Since then, the theater has hosted many top performances by famous stars.  Ronald Reagan even announced his engagement to Jane Wyman there.  The Chicago Theatre was restored in 1986 and revitalized in 2004.