{{Short description|Movie theater in Chicago, Illinois}} {{good article}} {{Infobox Theatre | name = Davis Theater | image = Davis Theatre Chicago.jpeg | image_size = 250px | caption = Front shot of Davis Theater along Lincoln Avenue | address = 4614 North Lincoln Avenue | city = Chicago, Illinois 60625 | country = United States | designation = | coordinates = {{coord|41.965438|-87.686837|type:landmark|display=inline}} | architect = Walter W. Ahlschlager | owner = Green Screenz Entertainment Group | tenant = | operator = Green Screenz Entertainment Group | capacity = | type = Movie theater (first run) | opened = 1918<ref name=CT>{{cite web|title=Davis Theater in Chicago, IL|url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/955|publisher=Cinema Treasures|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref> | reopened = | years_active = | rebuilt = | closed = | demolished = | other_names = Pershing Theater | production = | current_use = | website = http://www.davistheater.com | embedded = {{Infobox NRHP | name = Davis Theater | embed = yes | nrhp_type = | image = | caption = | location= 4616-4630 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, Illinois | coordinates = {{coord|41|57|55|N|87|41|11|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=Davis Theater|display=inline}}<ref name="nrhppoint">{{NRISref|version=2024point}}</ref> | added = April 26, 2016 | refnum = 15000930<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2025a}}</ref> }} }}
The '''Davis Theater''', originally known as the '''Pershing Theater''', is a first run movie theater located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Built in 1918, the theater has operated in different capacities in its history, showing silent films, German-language films, and various forms of stage performance. In 1999, the Davis was planned to be demolished to build residential condos, but the plans were cancelled in part due to a negative response from the community. It is one of the few operating neighborhood movie theaters in Chicago. Its building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2016-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf|title=Weekly list of actions, 4/25/16 through 4/29/16|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref>
==History== The Pershing Theater was built in 1918 and was named after First World War General of the Armies, John J. Pershing.<ref name="CSJ">{{cite news|last=Fourcher|first=Mike|title=The Davis Theater: A history and tour|url=http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/the-davis-theater-a-history-and-tour|access-date=June 30, 2013|newspaper=Center Square Journal|date=March 1, 2010|archive-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502083005/http://www.centersquarejournal.com/news/the-davis-theater-a-history-and-tour|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the only remaining theater of five built in Lincoln Square,<ref name="CSJ" /> and one of the few neighborhood theaters still operating in Chicago.<ref name=Birthday>{{cite news|title=Happy 175th birthday, Chicago! Let's celebrate all that the city has to offer|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weekend/10967786-421/happy-175th-birthday-chicago-lets-celebrate-all-that-the-city-has-to-offer.html|access-date=June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=February 29, 2012}}</ref> The building was designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager,<ref name=CT /> who was also responsible for the design of other famous buildings such as the Uptown Broadway Building in Chicago and the Roxy Theater in New York City. The Pershing opened showing silent films, its first being ''The Forbidden City'' and later ''Pals First''.<ref name="CSJ" /> In the 1930s, the Pershing was converted to show talkies at a cost of approximately $10,000 and was renamed the Davis Theater.
The Pershing had some involvement in The Case of the Ragged Stranger, an infamous Chicago murder case of the early 1920s.<ref name="CSJ" /> Carl Wanderer and Ruth Johnson, husband and wife, left the theater shortly before Johnson was murdered.<ref name=Haunts>{{cite book|last=Bielski|first=Ursula|title=More Chicago Haunts: Scenes from Myth and Memory|year=2000|publisher=Lake Claremont Press|isbn=1893121046|page=[https://archive.org/details/morechicagohaunt0000biel/page/128 128]|url=https://archive.org/details/morechicagohaunt0000biel|url-access=registration}}</ref> Although the murder was initially pinned on a stranger dressed in ragged clothing, an investigation revealed new evidence that suggested that Wanderer was, in fact, guilty of the murder. Wanderer was ultimately convicted and executed.<ref name="CSJ" />
Starting in the 1952, the theater attempted to appeal to the cultural influences in the neighborhood by showing German-language films in addition to American films.<ref name=Nelson1>{{cite news|last=Nelson|first=Susan|title=Week-end: Walking Tour, Old World goods and charm lure visitors to German Town|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date= September 5, 1969}}</ref> The theater eventually transformed to a German film house, even acting as host for the Chicago International Film Festival in 1972 where they opened with ''Signs of Life''.<ref name=SiskelGerman>{{cite news|last=Siskel|first=Gene|title=Movies: Viewing German exports|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/170296852|access-date=November 26, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=July 7, 1972|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232505/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/doc/170296852.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Jul%207,%201972&author=&pub=Chicago%20Tribune&edition=&startpage=&desc=Movies|url-status=live}}</ref> The Davis continued to show German films through the end of the decade.<ref name="Lost">{{cite book|last1=Heinen|first1=Joseph C.|title=Lost German Chicago|year=2009|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0738577142|page=94|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PWBG-0Sa8z8C|last2=Heinen |first2=Susan Barton}}</ref> The theater then transitioned to showing a variety of entertainment including puppet shows, second run films, and revivals through the 1970s. In 1979, a plan to revitalize the theater by modernizing it and concentrating on movie revivals was supported by film critic and Chicago resident Gene Siskel, but it was unsuccessful within months.<ref name="CSJ" />
In June 1980, the Davis hosted the Chicago International Film Festival's Dance Film Festival,<ref name=Winer>{{cite news|last=Winer|first=Linda|title=Dance: For cameras, dance is moving into sharper focus|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 22, 1980}}</ref> which featured a week-long showcase of dance-themed films such as ''Divine Madness'' and ''Non-Stop Astaire'', the latter of which was a collection of film dance routines featuring Fred Astaire with other notable dancers such as Judy Garland and Ginger Rogers.<ref name=Christiansen>{{cite news|last=Christiansen|first=Richard|title=Movies: Shall we dance? Film fest set for the Davis|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=June 15, 1980}}</ref>
In January 2016, the theater was closed for renovation and brought back to life in its current state as a historical landmark and community center for cinema and the arts. The architecture firm for the renovation was Kennedy Mann. In 2018, they were awarded the Award for Rehabilitation by Landmarks Illinois.
==Planned demolition== left|150px|thumb|Photo of the Davis Theater sign, facing southeast on Lincoln Avenue In October 1999, the Davis was put up for sale at an asking price of $1.6M with the description, "This ornate theater is waiting to be developed into a shopping mall".<ref name=Joravsky>{{cite news|last=Joravsky|first=Ben|title=Screen Savers|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/screen-savers/Content?oid=900974|access-date= June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Reader|date=December 9, 1999}}</ref> The realtor, Edward Vanek, showed the property to several interested developers who considered turning the complex into condominiums, a mall, or even a theater with food and liquor services.<ref name=Joravsky /> The Davis was eventually sold to developer Jim Jaeger later that year, who was rumored to be planning its demolition and replacement with residential housing.<ref name=Knight>{{cite web|last=Knight|first=Meribah|title=Screen gems|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120331/ISSUE03/303319971|newspaper=Crain's Chicago Business|access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref>
Soon after, a "Save the Davis" campaign was organized to prevent the theater's demolition,<ref name=Joravsky /><ref name=Rotzoll>{{cite news|last=Rotzoll|first=Brenda Warner|title=Residents upset over sale of theater|access-date=June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4244857F60979&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|date= December 4, 1999}}</ref> and included a community meeting at the Conrad Sulzer Regional Library, where over 500 people voiced opposition to the demolition of the theater.<ref name="CSJ" /><ref name=Joravsky /> Participants in the meeting argued that demolishing the building would be a historical loss and expressed frustration that useful small businesses had been lost to the community in order to build more residential units.<ref name=Rotzoll1.1>{{cite news|last=Rotzoll|first=Brenda Warner|title=Davis Theater purchase deal falls through|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4244D8D6655FD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date= June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=December 24, 1999}}</ref> The campaign was supported by alderman Eugene Schulter, who refused to rezone the property to accommodate the redevelopment plans.<ref name="CSJ" /><ref name=Joravsky />
The property was bid on in December 1999,<ref name=Bid>{{cite news|title=Residents make a bid for theater|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4244F284962A0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date= June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=December 31, 1999}}</ref> and acquired by a non-profit, Davis Theater Preservation Corporation, headed by community resident Mary Edsey.<ref name=Rotzoll2>{{cite news|last=Rotzoll|first=Brenda Warner|title=Management firm to preserve Davis Theater|access-date=June 30, 2013|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB4245A1FFD60AB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|date=January 11, 2000}}</ref> The property was sold to Special Real Estate Services in 2000, and thereafter the theater began to show first run films once again.<ref name=Rotzoll2 />
==Present operations== The Davis Theater is currently operated as a first run theater, containing three screens.<ref name=CT /> It also regularly shows second runs of older films, and hosts private events. It is owned by Greenscreenz Entertainment LLC. It was renovated to replace its film projectors with digital film.<ref name=Ravenswood>{{cite web|last=Baeb |first=Eddie |title=Peter Wirtz turns to real estate with Lincoln Square buy |work=Ravenswood in Chicago |url=http://ravenswoodinchicago.com/2011/02/02/welcome-to-lincoln-square-mr-wirtz/ |access-date=June 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060723/http://ravenswoodinchicago.com/2011/02/02/welcome-to-lincoln-square-mr-wirtz/ |archive-date=September 21, 2013 }}</ref> The Davis participated in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival in 2008.<ref name=CICFF1>{{cite web|last=Goodman |first=Tiffany |title=American Showcase at Children's Festival Highlights U.S. Independent Family Films |url=http://cicff.org/bin/file/docs/American%20Showcase%20of%20Films%20%282007%29.pdf |publisher=Chicago International Children's Film Festival |access-date=June 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060840/http://cicff.org/bin/file/docs/American%20Showcase%20of%20Films%20%282007%29.pdf |archive-date=September 21, 2013 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{commons category|Davis Theater}}
{{Movie theaters in Chicago}} {{NRHP in Chicago, Illinois}}
Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Chicago Category:Culture of Chicago Category:German-American culture in Chicago Category:Theatres completed in 1918 Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Chicago