09 Oct adler and sullivan’s auditorium theater as it appeared during its 1932 rededication

group of seldom seen kaufmann and fabry silver gelatin prints of adler and sullivan’s auditorium theater (1889) as it appeared shortly after it was restored in december of 1932. the interior images were taken for the rededication held 43 years and five days after the original opening ceremony held on december 9th, 1889.

architectural firm holabird and root oversaw the three-month long restoration, which included the removal of entrance and inner-lobby stained glass windows deemed “undistinguished,” giant crystal chandeliers added to lobbies and foyers and a decoration scheme consisting of beige, walnut and gold.

american artist charles holloway, who painted the fresco above the theater’s proscenium in 1889, retuned to restore his work 43 years later.
less than a decade later the auditorium theater went bankrupt and was subsequently taken over by the city of chicago in 1942, where it converted into a world war ii serviceman center, complete with a bowling alley on the stage.