DuPage Theater

DuPage Theater, also known as the DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes and informally as “The Duper,” was a historic movie theater and mixed-use commercial property in Lombard, Illinois. Constructed in 1927, it was designed by architect R. G. Wolff, who had previously worked for the prominent Chicago theater-design firm Rapp and Rapp and had also served as a consultant on the Chicago Theatre. Wolff’s work on the DuPage reflected the period’s interest in atmospheric and stylistically distinctive cinema buildings, combining a Spanish patio-inspired theatrical environment with commercial and residential components. The theater was named for DuPage County, an identity choice intended to attract patrons from beyond Lombard. Its original auditorium held approximately 800 people and was built as a single-screen venue. In later years, the auditorium was divided into two screens, which operated as low-price cinemas showing $1 films. The building’s six adjoining shops were also significant to the local economy. During the theater’s early period, Lombard was a comparatively small community, and the retail spaces represented a substantial share of the village’s commercial activity. The complex’s location near the Chicago and North Western Railway further supported its role as a destination for local residents and visitors. The property was recognized for its architectural and historical importance when the DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. The listing reflected the site’s combination of entertainment, retail, residential, transportation-related, and community significance. Although the theater later ceased normal operations and became vacant, the building remained a subject of local preservation and redevelopment discussions. In 1990, Paul Anderson and the local recording company Fatal Beauty Studios proposed reopening the building as a concert hall. The Lombard Village Board rejected that proposal, leaving the property without a new operating use. The theater remained vacant until 2000, when Big Idea Productions, Inc., a producer of children’s videos, acquired the property. Big Idea intended to renovate the theater and use other portions of the complex as its corporate headquarters. After assessing the site, however, the company concluded that the property was not substantial enough for its plans, withdrew from the project, and returned the theater to village ownership. Lombard subsequently created several committees to study whether rehabilitation was feasible. Those efforts did not produce a viable preservation or redevelopment plan. In May 2007, the DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes were demolished. The property was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The site remained vacant for several years before construction began in 2021 on a new luxury-apartment development. As a result, DuPage Theater survives primarily as a locally important architectural and cultural landmark documented through historic-register records, archival material, and community memory rather than as an operating entertainment brand.

DuPage Theater was built in 1927 in Lombard, Illinois, as an approximately 800-seat movie house serving the village and the wider DuPage County area. Its designer, R. G. Wolff, had worked for Rapp and Rapp and was associated with other notable Chicago-area theaters. The building used a Spanish patio-style design and combined an auditorium with residential and commercial elements. Six shops were incorporated into the complex, making the property an important part of Lombard’s early commercial life. Its location near the Chicago and North Western Railway helped bring customers to the theater and shops. The theater was originally a single-screen venue. In its later operating period, it was divided into two screens and became known for inexpensive $1 movie programming. The property’s nickname, “The Duper,” reflected its local identity. In 1987, the DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes were placed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing the complex’s architectural and historical value. The building’s later history was dominated by attempts to find a viable new use. In 1990, Paul Anderson and Fatal Beauty Studios proposed turning it into a concert hall, but the Lombard Village Board rejected the plan. The property then remained vacant for roughly a decade. Big Idea Productions, Inc. acquired it in 2000, intending to renovate the theater and occupy other areas as its headquarters. The company later determined that the property could not adequately support its requirements and withdrew, returning the building to village ownership. Lombard formed committees to investigate rehabilitation and preservation options, but those efforts did not result in a practical project. The theater and shops were demolished in May 2007. The National Register designation was removed in 2020. The former site remained empty until a luxury-apartment project broke ground in 2021. DuPage Theater is therefore a defunct local cinema and historic property whose importance lies in its architecture, its role in Lombard’s commercial and entertainment history, and the preservation debate surrounding its eventual loss.

• 2021

  Redevelopment begins

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  Ground is broken for luxury apartments on the former theater site.

• 2020

  National Register removal

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  The property is removed from the National Register of Historic Places.

• 2007

  Demolition

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  The theater and adjoining shops are demolished in May after rehabilitation efforts fail to produce a workable plan.

• 2000

  Big Idea Productions purchase

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  Big Idea Productions acquires the property with plans for renovation and corporate offices, but later abandons the project.

• 1990

  Concert-hall proposal rejected

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  A proposal by Paul Anderson and Fatal Beauty Studios to reopen the theater as a concert hall is rejected by the Lombard Village Board.

• 1987

  National Register designation

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  The DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes are added to the National Register of Historic Places.

• 1927

  Theater and shops open

  [1]DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org

  The approximately 800-seat DuPage Theater and its adjoining six-shop complex are constructed in Lombard, Illinois.

A community-oriented historic cinema and mixed-use entertainment complex serving Lombard and the surrounding DuPage County area.

• Cinema exhibition · 1927

  DuPage Theater movie screenings

  The theater’s principal offering was movie exhibition in a purpose-built auditorium of approximately 800 seats. It began as a single-screen cinema and was later divided into two screens. In its later years, the venue operated as a low-price theater showing films for one dollar, positioning it as an accessible local entertainment option rather than a premium multiplex destination.

• Retail space · 1927

  DuPage Shoppes

  Six retail units were integrated into the theater complex. The shops served local commerce and, during Lombard’s earlier period as a small town, represented a meaningful portion of the village’s available business activity. Their inclusion made the property a mixed-use destination rather than a cinema-only building.

• 2007

  Demolition of the historic complexOther

  Background

  Village-led rehabilitation efforts did not produce a feasible project after the property returned to municipal ownership.

  Action taken

  The DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppes were demolished in May.

  Aftermath

  The site remained vacant until redevelopment with luxury apartments began in 2021, and the historic-register listing was removed in 2020.

  Source

• 2000

  Big Idea Productions acquisition and withdrawalM&A

  Background

  Big Idea Productions purchased the property intending to renovate the theater and use other parts of the complex as its corporate headquarters.

  Action taken

  After determining that the site was not substantial enough for its requirements, Big Idea abandoned the plan and returned the property to village ownership.

  Aftermath

  Lombard organized committees to study rehabilitation, but no successful preservation or redevelopment plan followed.

  Source

• 1990

  Proposed conversion to a concert hallStrategy

  Background

  Paul Anderson and Fatal Beauty Studios sought to give the vacant theater a new life as a concert venue.

  Action taken

  The Lombard Village Board rejected the proposed conversion.

  Aftermath

  The building remained vacant and continued to await a viable reuse proposal.

  Source

1. 1DuPage Theatre and DuPage Shoppesen.wikipedia.org