The Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL

When it opened on October 26, 1921, the Chicago Theater was the most luxurious and lavish movie palace the city had ever seen. The auditorium is seven stories high, more than one half of a city block wide, and nearly as long. The theater marquee has become a landmark itself, with the bright red letters spelling out "CHICAGO," as is the 29-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. Though the theater had to close in the 1970s, it was saved from demolition by the City of Chicago, and was meticulously restored through a nine-month, $25 million dollar process. It reopened on September 10, 1986 with a performance by Frank Sinatra, boasting all of the glitz and glamour it once had. The 3,065 seat theater now features plays, musicals, concerts, and more. It remains entrenched in the hearts of the people of Chicago, and serves as a vital part of the history of State Street.