Harris and Selwyn Theaters

Harris and Selwyn Theaters refers to a pair of historically connected theaters in Chicago’s Loop community area. The venues were built by theatrical producer Sam H. Harris together with brothers Archie and Edgar Selwyn, linking the buildings to prominent figures in early twentieth-century American theater. They originally functioned as live-performance playhouses and formed part of Chicago’s commercial theater landscape. The Harris hosted theatrical productions including the Chicago engagement of A Streetcar Named Desire. Over time, the venues changed substantially in both ownership and use. In the 1950s, producer Michael Todd acquired both theaters and converted them into movie houses. During this period the Harris was renamed the Michael Todd Theatre, while the Selwyn became Michael Todd’s Cinestage. Although primarily used for film exhibition, the Harris occasionally continued to accommodate live performances, including a production of Two for the Seesaw starring Ruth Roman. Both theaters had closed by the beginning of the 1980s. Their identity as operating venues was briefly revived in 1986 when the buildings reopened as the short-lived Dearborn Cinemas, but that use did not become permanent. The theaters’ historical importance was later formally recognized when the buildings were designated Chicago Landmarks on March 31, 1983. The designation protected their notable exterior architecture even as their interior use changed. In 2000, the two theaters were extensively gutted and rebuilt as part of the Goodman Theatre project. The landmarked exteriors were retained and incorporated into the new Goodman Theatre building. As a result, the Harris and Selwyn names no longer identify independent operating theaters in their historic form, but the buildings remain connected to Chicago’s performing-arts history through their preserved façades and their continuing physical relationship with the Goodman Theatre.

The Harris and Selwyn Theaters were twin theaters in Chicago’s Loop, built through the collaboration of Sam H. Harris and theatrical producers Archie and Edgar Selwyn. Their construction reflected the importance of Chicago as a touring and producing center for American stage entertainment. The buildings were conceived as live playhouses rather than as permanent movie venues, and their early identity was tied to the commercial theater circuit. The Harris presented stage productions during its theatrical era. One notable engagement was the Chicago run of A Streetcar Named Desire, demonstrating the venue’s role in presenting significant dramatic work to local audiences. The paired theaters operated within the same broader entertainment district but could support separate programming and different production schedules. Their use changed in the 1950s after both theaters were purchased by producer Michael Todd. Todd converted the buildings into cinemas, illustrating the wider shift in American entertainment economics as motion pictures became increasingly dominant. The Harris was renamed the Michael Todd Theatre, and the Selwyn was renamed Michael Todd’s Cinestage. The Harris did not lose all connection to live theater during this period; it occasionally hosted stage presentations, including Two for the Seesaw with Ruth Roman, but cinema became the principal function of both properties. By the beginning of the 1980s, both venues had closed. The buildings briefly returned to operation in 1986 as Dearborn Cinemas, although this revival was short-lived. Their architectural and cultural significance was recognized earlier, on March 31, 1983, when they were designated Chicago Landmarks. This status became especially important as the structures faced further redevelopment and adaptive reuse. In 2000, the former theaters underwent a complete interior gutting and rebuilding as part of the Goodman Theatre. The project ended the independent operating identity of the Harris and Selwyn as historic playhouses or cinemas, but it retained their landmarked exterior elements within the new building. The surviving façades therefore function as architectural reminders of several phases of Chicago entertainment history: early live theater, mid-century cinema, a brief late twentieth-century cinema revival, and twenty-first-century integration into a major nonprofit theater complex.

• 2000

  Rebuilt as part of the Goodman Theatre

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  The interiors were completely gutted and rebuilt as part of the Goodman Theatre complex, while the landmarked exterior portions were preserved.

• 1986

  Brief reopening as Dearborn Cinemas

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  The former theaters reopened for a short period under the Dearborn Cinemas name.

• 1983

  Chicago Landmark designation

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  The Harris and Selwyn buildings were designated Chicago Landmarks on March 31, 1983.

• 1950

  Both theaters converted to cinemas

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1950s, Michael Todd acquired the two theaters and converted them for motion-picture exhibition. The Harris became the Michael Todd Theatre and the Selwyn became Michael Todd's Cinestage.

• Twin theaters built in Chicago's Loop

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  Sam H. Harris and brothers Archie and Edgar Selwyn were associated with the construction of the paired theaters, which opened as live-performance venues. The precise construction year is not specified in the cited reference.

• The theaters operate as live playhouses

  [1]Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org

  The venues presented stage productions, including the Chicago engagement of A Streetcar Named Desire at the Harris.

Historic Chicago entertainment venues that moved between legitimate theater, cinema, and later adaptive reuse within the Goodman Theatre complex.

• Live theater

  Harris Theatre

  The Harris was one of the original paired live-performance venues. It hosted theatrical productions and was associated with the Chicago run of A Streetcar Named Desire. After acquisition by Michael Todd in the 1950s, it was converted to cinema and renamed the Michael Todd Theatre, although it occasionally continued to host live performances.

• Live theater and cinema

  Selwyn Theatre

  The Selwyn was the companion venue to the Harris and originally operated as a live playhouse. Following Michael Todd’s acquisition, it was converted into a movie theater and renamed Michael Todd’s Cinestage. Its independent identity ended when the building was later incorporated into the Goodman Theatre project.

• Cinema · 1950

  Michael Todd Theatre

  This was the 1950s-era cinema name adopted by the Harris after Michael Todd purchased and converted the theater. The renamed venue primarily exhibited motion pictures, while retaining occasional capacity for live performances.

• Cinema · 1950

  Michael Todd's Cinestage

  Michael Todd’s Cinestage was the cinema identity applied to the former Selwyn Theatre after its conversion from a live playhouse. It operated as part of Todd’s redevelopment of the paired venues for film exhibition.

• Cinema · 1986

  Dearborn Cinemas

  Dearborn Cinemas was the short-lived name under which the former Harris and Selwyn buildings reopened in 1986 after having closed by the beginning of the decade.

• 2000

  Adaptive reuse within the Goodman TheatreStrategy

  Background

  After the historic venues had ceased operating independently, their landmarked exteriors remained significant components of the Chicago theater district.

  Action taken

  The interiors were gutted and rebuilt as part of the Goodman Theatre, while the protected exterior elements were retained.

  Aftermath

  The Harris and Selwyn ceased to function as independent theaters, but their preserved façades continued as part of the Goodman Theatre building.

  Source

• 1950

  Conversion from live theaters to cinemasStrategy

  Background

  Michael Todd purchased both venues during the 1950s, when motion-picture exhibition was an increasingly important use for major entertainment properties.

  Action taken

  The Harris was renamed the Michael Todd Theatre and the Selwyn was renamed Michael Todd's Cinestage, with both buildings converted for cinema operation.

  Aftermath

  The theaters operated primarily as cinemas for a later phase of their history, although the Harris occasionally hosted live performances.

  Source

1. 1Harris and Selwyn Theatersen.wikipedia.org