Theatre

" The city of Chicago changed tremendously during the first half of the twentieth century" (Newman).

People of all different backgrounds arrived in Chicago in the hope of beginning a new chapter in their lives. Unlike the rural locations in the United States, the city offered employment opportunities as well as an appealing lifestyle. Those with enough ambition to take the steps toward achieving a higher social status were drawn to the theatrical atmosphere of the city. Social status was used to gain both power and publicity; those who could establish a "name" separated themselves from those who were poverty stricken and working at factories. Without being consciously aware of it, individuals were constantly bombarded by the external forces of Chicago.

As people grew accustomed to living in Chicago, they became more prone to participate in materialistic ideals. According to Scott A. Newman, Chicagoans "defined themselves by the clothes they wore, the movies they had seen, the dances they could dance...". Going to the theatre was one way in which individuals could show off their new accessories and clothing. The more trips one took to the theatre, the wealthier he/she seemed to be by others. "As the city grew and fortunes increased, up-and-coming families utilized new forms of commercial entertainment to confirm their social status" (Newman ).

Not only was the theatre used as a tool to gain social status, it was also portrayed as a place where one could escape from reality and enter a "fantasy" world. The theatre gave relief to those from their every day monotonous jobs. Chicagoans fled to the theatre with their paychecks in hand to spend a few hours in an exciting and unpredictable atmosphere. The theatre provided a dream world that everyone could be a part of together. The integration of fantasy and reality was desirable to all classes of Chicagoans. People of all different ethnicities and racial backgrounds congregated at the theatre. Numerous individuals were living in poor areas and had little hope of ever leaving there struggling and depressing lifestyle. They used the theatre as an outlet out of the hustle and bustle of the city. Theatre transformed and changed how people lived their lives.

One theatre that made it's mark as a "premiere movie palace" (Newman), was the Chicago Theatre. Scott a. Newman writes, "...the theatre's combination of first-run movies, light vaudeville, and musical performances drew patrons from across the city...the theatre...helped enliven the city's central business district by catering, in large part, to wealthier Chicagoans...". Balaban & Katx opened up the extravagant theatre in 1921. This theatre was expected to draw in large crowds along with huge profits. In order to achieve this goal, it offered "exclusive engagements of newly released motion pictures in an exceptionally elegant setting" (Newman). When the doors opened for the first time, Chicagoans rushed to buy tickets to watch the feature attraction, "The Sign on the Door", which starred Norma Talmadge. Carl Sandburg reported in the Chicago Tribune, "...the sidewalks were crowded with folks waiting to get in. Not until after the main picture run at 10:30 was over did the sidewalks get clear and the police, mounted and afoot, breathe easy" (Newman). The Chicago Theatre proved a success because not only did it provide a place where people could escape from their everyday routines by watching a feature attraction, but it also included a jazz show to add to the musical and artistic atmosphere. During the Depression, the Chicago Theatre continued to bring in high profits by promoting new jazz musicians and bringing in big name bands. The Chicago Theatre acted as a get-away for individuals from the economic challenges they were facing during this dreadful time of the twentieth century. The theatre provided the stimulating and artistic atmosphere where people could escape from the realities of their lives and forget about their problems.