The Music Box

Every once in awhile, I stumble upon a place that sparkles amidst the normal everyday places that I go. Often I find that these places have been there all along, as have I, I've just never noticed them. Once such place is Bookman's Alley in Evanston, which I will probably blog about someday. But this particular posting is about The Music Box, an old ornate movie theater that plays independent, foreign, and cult films (Rocky Horror, anyone?) with old school charm.

The Music Box opened on August 22, 1929 when picture theaters were just starting to take off. Sound films were a new technology and the theater was equipped with an orchestra pit as well as organ chambers in case the sound failed and silent films needed accompaniment. At the time, other theaters showing movies in Chicago were referred to as movie "palaces" and seated upwards of 3,000 people at a time. The Music Box sat 800 and was considered an "elaborate little brother" to the huge theaters that came before it. Ironically, today The Music Box holds the title of having the largest operating theater space in the city.

I recently paid a visit to this mecca of cool in order to see a presentation of the short films that have been nominated for Academy awards this year. I was blown away. Not only were the films fantastic, but the venue was amazing in about a zillion different ways. So, below you will find my list of the Top Ten Reasons You Should Visit The Music Box.

10. It has an old school defunct but still wickedly cool ticket booth out front.

9. It is very ornate, cloaked in burgundy velvet and gold.

8. The popcorn...oh my god...there's a reason people stop in just to take a bag home with them.

7. The ceiling is dark blue with tiny sparkling white lights that make it look like the night sky.

6. There are small heaters under the middle 4 or 5 seats in each row which provide much needed relief to people like me who freeze to death in nearly all movie theaters.

5. A real organist plays a real organ in the theater while you wait for your movie. When he is finished, they put on popular music from when the theater first opened.

4. A giant red velvet curtain rises from in front of the screen right as your movie is about to start, which makes you feel like you've been taken straight back to the 1920s.

3. A reel of film made to look old (crackly with spots and streaks) tells you that the previews for your film are about to begin.

2. There is a theater ghost named Whitey who lives in the theater. He was the original owner and ran the theater until he died in 1977. He is said to pace Aisle 4, watching the doors for kids who try to sneak in. He also expresses his opinion of bad organists by throwing the curtain over both organ chambers at the same time in order to halt the "bad" music.

1. The selection of films can't be beat. If you want your run-of-the-mill Hollywood blockbusters, you can see those anywhere. If you want to find unique independent, foreign, and underground films, head to the Music Box. You'll walk away wondering how you've lived without the place all your life.