The Biograph Theater: Chicago's Stage for Drama and Crime
- 123gochicago
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
There are few places in Chicago where the line between Hollywood and history blurs as perfectly as the Biograph Theater. This charming red-brick building opened its doors in 1914, at a time when movies were silent, tickets were a nickel, and going to the theater was one of the city’s favorite pastimes.
Designed by architect Samuel N. Crowen, the Biograph was built with elegant details — a tall vertical sign, arched windows, and a glowing marquee that drew movie lovers in from Lincoln Avenue. Inside, a single screen and ornate plasterwork gave audiences a taste of luxury, even during the earliest days of cinema.
Through the 1920s and 1930s, the Biograph thrived. Patrons came to watch silent stars like Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow, then later, the “talkies” that defined the Golden Age of Hollywood. But while moviegoers came for the glamour, the Biograph would become known for something far darker.
On July 22, 1934, the Biograph Theater became the setting for one of the most famous manhunts in American history.That night, John Dillinger — the legendary bank robber dubbed “Public Enemy No. 1” — decided to see the film Manhattan Melodrama with his girlfriend, Polly Hamilton, and a woman who would go down in history as The Lady in Red.
In truth, her dress was more orange than red — but her role was unforgettable. She was Anna Sage, a Romanian-born madam who had agreed to help the FBI in exchange for leniency on her deportation case. Sage tipped off federal agents that Dillinger planned to visit the Biograph that night.
As the movie ended, Dillinger walked out into the warm Chicago evening, unaware that FBI agents and police officers surrounded the theater. When he spotted them and ran toward a nearby alley, shots rang out. Dillinger fell just steps from the theater’s glowing marquee, bringing an end to his brief, violent career and marking the first high-profile success for the newly empowered FBI. The next morning, newspapers across the country declared “Dillinger Dead!” — and Chicago’s Biograph Theater was instantly etched into American folklore.
Though the building’s legacy is tied to that infamous night, the Biograph itself continued to evolve.It remained a movie theater for decades, screening art films and independent features, until Victory Gardens Theater — one of Chicago’s leading nonprofit theater companies — purchased the building in 2004.
They renovated the space into a live performance venue while carefully preserving the historic façade, lobby, and marquee. Today, the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater hosts award-winning plays and new works by emerging playwrights, making it a cornerstone of Chicago’s performing arts scene. Inside, you can still feel the blend of old and new — the restored plaster ceilings, the vintage signage, and the lingering sense that you’re sitting in a place where history once paused for a headline.
Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Discover More Hidden Gems
For more hidden gems check out my book Chicago Beyond the Bean, available now. It’s filled with stories that take you beyond the typical tourist spots to explore the city’s most fascinating corners.
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