he chicago theatre first opened its doors in 1921, a movie palace of unprecedented construction completed by rapp & rapp for balaban and katz. its french baroque-style façade was comprised of an off-white terra cotta built into monumental arches. the building’s many extravagant decorative elements stoked comparisons to versailles and displayed the influence of louis xiv french stylings. despite its impressive design, the façade and the interior have undergone several major renovations during the 95 years of its existence. the chicago theater was first visited with changes in 1933, 12 years after its opening, in preparation for the century of progress exposition. again in 1949-1950, a renovation aimed to modernize the building and modify the interior. by the mid-1980’s the theater was neglected and demolition loomed before a major restoration effort was waged to return the building back to its historic 1930’s appearance. as detailed, the six story marquee signage was retooled multiple times, and completely replaced in the 1990’s.