Morse Theater

The Morse Theater operated in the East Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago from 1912 until 1930. Since then, it has operated as the Co-Ed Theater, a synagogue, a cobbler, a jazz club, and most recently in 2010, it reopened as the Mayne Stage.

History

Located at 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago, the Morse Theater opened in 1912 as a 600-seat nickelodeon and vaudeville house.[1] From 1930-1954 it operated as the Co-Ed Theater,[2] a reference to its proximity to Loyola University. Starting in 1955 the building was used as a synagogue for the Congregation Beth Israel Anshe Yanova.[3] In 1977 the building came under ownership of the Geroulis family and housed their business, Cobblers Mall. The shoe repair shop moved to a smaller location on the same block in 2004.[4]

In 2008 the theater underwent a 6 million dollar renovation to become a jazz club featuring cabaret style seating and a high end audio system,[1] once again operating as the Morse. That same year, the newly-renovated Morse was damaged in what officials suspected to be arson motivated by anti-gentrification sentiments.[5] The Morse Theater suffered its next setback when the building owners entered into a dispute with its operators in 2009.[6] It closed when efforts to resolve this dispute failed.

The theater reopened under new management in 2010 as the Mayne Stage, a theater focused on live music and comedy.[7] The new name was a reference to the location of the theatre, on the intersection of Morse Ave and Wayne Ave. The Mayne Stage was viewed as a potential sign of renewal in what had been an economically challenged neighborhood.[8] After six years, owner Jennifer Pritzker and management company Tawani Enterprises closed the Mayne Stage as a public venue for concerts. It currently operates as a site for private events.[9][10]

References
  1. Reich, Howard (February 24, 2008). "Bringing jazz to Rogers Park: Will people follow?". Chicago Tribune.
  2. Woodard, Benjamin (December 18, 2014). "Throwback Thursday: Rogers Park's Morse Avenue Revealed in Old Photos". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27.
  3. Packer, Rober (2007). Images of America: Chicago's Forgotten Synagogues. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738551524.
  4. Woodward, Benjamin (October 21, 2014). "93-Year-Old Morse Avenue Shoe Repair Shop Closes After Owner Falls Ill". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2017-03-27.
  5. Long, Jeff "Arson suspected in Rogers Park theater fire" Chicago Tribune 11 August 2008: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-11/news/0808100305_1_arson-suspected-world-music-festival
  6. Reich, Howard "Morse Theatre operators, owners strike deal to remain open" 11 March 2009 Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-03-11/entertainment/0903110082_1_operation-theater-first-class
  7. Reich, Howard "The Mayne Stage picks up where the Morse Theatre left off" 27 June 2010 Chicago Tribune: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06-27/entertainment/ct-ae-0627-mayne-stage-20100627_1_morse-theatre-mayne-stage-empire-room
  8. Reich, Howard "Coming soon: A renamed, revived Morse Theatre" Chicago Tribune 4 January 2010: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-04/entertainment/1001030172_1_movie-theater-silent-city-hall
  9. Rice, Linze "Mayne Stage Ditches Live Music, Will Host Weddings, Private Parties Instead." DNA Info 4 April 2016:
  10. Sudo, Chuck "Rogers Park Theater Mayne Stage To Stop Hosting Shows." BISNOW 5 April 2016: https://www.bisnow.com/chicago/news/commercial-real-estate/jennifer-pritzker-closing-mayne-stage-to-public-58327

42°0′29.8″N 87°39′54.1″W

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