The Tivoli Theatre

The Tivoli Theatre Celebrating 80 Years of Entertaining!

Photo by Leslie Schwartz

TIVOLI THEATRE
5021 Highland Avenue
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Show Info: (630) 968-0219
Seating: 990 + 11 handicap

Of Interest:

DIGITAL and 3D PROJECTION for state-of-the-art entertainment

September, 2008, the Tivoli is selected by the American Institute of Architechs as one of the 150 best places to visit in Illinois

All new seats (summer 2003) for greater comfort

The only largest single screen theatre in the western Chicago suburbs

Refurbished stage and dressing rooms

Home of the "Midwest Ballet Theatre" (live ballet performances 2 times per year)

Home of the "After Hours Film Society" (speciality movies with moderated discussions following the presentation, 2nd and 4th Monday of each month)

All Dolby Digital Surround Sound

Equipped with a listening system for the hearing impaired for movies AND live shows

West Suburban Living Magazine's "Best of the West" for 2007, 2008, 2009 (not that we're bragging or anything!!)

Money-back guarantee on movie admission if not satisfied in the first 30 minutes (A "Classic Cinemas" innovation!)

Free refills on popcorn and soda for all sizes (Another "Classic Cinemas" innovation)

To one who loves film and its history an old theater exemplifies motion picture evolution. Through the doors of a picture house can be traced the cultural, economic and technological growth of movies. In Downers Grove, a western suburb of Chicago, stands a theater built in the era of the movie palace.

It supplies just such an example, providing an opportunity to witness the growth and evolution reaching back 80 years into movie history. Today, Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre is one of the best known landmarks in the area, and remains one of the most successful single screen theatres in the entire U.S.! It's beautifully renovated French Renaissance

interior (completely repainted in 1996), classic marquee, and state of the art Digitalprojection and sound systems makes going to The Tivoli Theatre an experience in itself! The Chicago Tribune has cited the Tivoli as the "best movie theatre in the suburbs". (The picture is of the Tivoli during opening week, December, 1928. The interior photo is by Leslie Schwartz, November, 2003.)

On December 25, 1928, four thousand people were waiting in line outside of the Tivoli Theatre anticipating its 1:30PM premier performance. Children paid fifteen cents and adults paid forty cents (fifty cents on Sundays and holidays) for admission into the five hundred thousand dollar theatre. Designed by Chicago architects, Van Guten and Van Guten, the Tivoli Theatre was operated for its first 20 years by the Balaban and Katz theater chain, and was only the second theatre in the U.S. designed to play "sound" movies. Dubbed the "wonder theatre of the western suburbs" the Tivoli boasted Vitaphone and Movietone capability. A typical showing in these early days would include a feature length talking picture, three Vitaphone talking and singing acts, and a Movietone news reel.

The Tivoli is a large theatre built to originally seat 1392 persons. A twelve thousand dollar Wurlitzer pipe organ was installed as well as a good-sized stage for live entertainment. (The currently installed Wurlitzer pipe organ is not the original pipe organ.)

Another interesting feature of the Tivoli is the building in which it is housed. Opening at the same time as the theatre and all under the same roof were bowling and billiards, a hotel with dining room,

barber shop and stores. The hotel, bowling alley, stores and barber shop remain to this day.

The Tivoli succeeded in maintaining its popularity well into the 1960s. Remodeling occurred in the 1950s to "modernize", removing the gilded red and gold decor to cooler blue and green colors. The nine foot jeweled chandeliers were reduced in size and their "jewels" were removed and seating capacity was reduced to 1044 to provide more leg room. In 2003 the seats were again replaced with larger and more comfy seats, along with dedicated places for handicap seating. This further reduced the seating capacity to a little over 1000 including handicap spaces. Also in 2003 the restrooms were remodeled so that both men's and women's rooms were on the same floor as the lobby and fully handicap accessible.
The theatre's original ornate marquee was replaced in the 1960's to make room for a sleeker, more modern marquee. (The picture shows the Tivoli as it appears today.)

At some time in the 1970s attendance began to decline because the theatre's ownership at that time allowed the theatre to deteriorate. In 1978 the Tivoli closed its doors for the first time since 1928 shortly after Tivoli Enterprises, Inc., was formed to own the entire Tivoli complex. The theatre remained closed for repairs and cleaning for only a matter of weeks before it was reopened under the new ownership.

The theme of sound runs through the Tivoli's history beginning with its inception as a "talkies" theatre and continuing today with continuing upgrades to it’s Dolby system from CP50 to CP100 to CP 200 to the present CP500 with Digital Theatre System sound. The present system using HPS4000 Dolby equipment and Klipsch speakers, all designed by one of the country's foremost sound engineers, represents the state-of-the-art in motion picture stereo surround digital sound. And, true to its history as a cutrting edge theatre, the Tivoli now has the latest in Digital Projection for astounding picture and sound clarity.

The Tivoli Theatre is the flagship of the "Classic Cinemas" chain of theatres in the western Chicago suburbs and outlying areas. "Classic Cinemas" encompasses theatres from Oak Park on the east, to Freeport in the far west, to Kankakee in the far south, to Fox Lake in the far North. A number of the theatres are 1920's & 30's vintage theatres all lovingly renovated and/or restored, and cared for beautifully.

Tivoli Enterprises, Inc., was founded in 1978 with the purchase of the entire Tivoli building. Renovation and restoration started in 1980. In the 1950's a CinemaScope screen was added in front of the proscenium arch thus covering that beautiful architectural element and preventing use of the stage. Just one of the many projects completed in the 1980's was the moving of the screen back behind the proscenium arch to once again allow orchestra or live entertainment capabilities.

Also added in 1992 was a 3 manual/10 rank Wurlitzer organ that rises from the orchestra pit. The original organ, also a Wurlitzer, was removed in 1932 and sold to a private collector in Great Britain.

The present organ came from the Indiana Theater and is owned and maintained by CATOE, the Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts. Click Here to see the stoplist of this instrument.

In 1989 efforts were made by local volunteers to restore the stage to full operation with the original 1928 equipment. The original 1928 Frank Adams Major lightboard was completely refurbished,

with several enhancements made to facilitate the dual role of movie theatre and playhouse. The dressing rooms (4 plus a green room) in the theatre basement were restored, complete with makeup tables and excellent lighting. Additional sound facilities specifically oriented towards the needs of live theatre were added as well. Live shows are staffed by members of the Tivoli Stage Crew, a dedicated group of volunteers.

To take a guided online tour behind the scenes of the Tivoli, click here

The Tivoli, as a live theatre since 1989, has seen hundreds of live plays oriented towards families and school children, dozens of classical music concerts, many community events, several "beauty" pageants, and a variety of theatre organ concerts. The Tivoli Theatre is also the performing home of the Midwest Ballet Theatre, which performs at least two major productions each season, beginning with an annual Nutcracker Suite in November that plays to sellout crowds.