Historic Theatres of Chicago's Loop

Movie palaces! Legit theatres! SMELL-O-VISION! In this walking tour, we'll trace the history of some of Chicago's best (and least) known historic theatres.

We'll see the facades of some that still exist, visit the locations of theatres long past, & even visit some building that are hiding historic theatre details just under their modern facades.

FAQ

• The tour will cover about a 1.5 mile walking distance, so wear your walking shoes.
• The tour will last approximately 1.5 hours.
• We will meet in front of the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street.
• This tour is outside only & will not enter any theatres. In some cases, we'll be discussing the history of theatres long since torn down.
• Rain or shine! Bring appropriate clothing in case of inclement weather. This is an outside only tour.
  

WHO IS LEYLA

Leyla I. Royale has been leading tours in Chicago since 2011. She's worked for the Chicago Theatre, Atlas Obscura, Mysterious Chicago, & various other local tour companies. She's been researching, developing, & leading her own tours since 2015. Her favorite topics in Chicago history are old movie palaces & theatres, strange deaths & disasters, neighborhoods on the far north side, & just whatever general weirdness or forgotten history she finds in newspaper archives. She's also a cellist & enthusiastic flying trapeze hobbiest.

You can find more info on her on her website here. You can also hear Chicago History stories from Leyla on TikTok.