Bank robber John Dillinger’s final moments echo here at the Biograph Theater. This is not just a theater. It’s a landmark steeped in history and intrigue. The Biograph Theater stands on North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Designed by Samuel N. Crowen, the Biograph opened in 1914. Its architecture reflects the movie houses of that era. Notice the storefront-width lobby and the recessed entrance. The free-standing ticket booth and canopy marquee add to its charm. Red pressed brick and white-glazed terra cotta complete the facade.
But the Biograph’s history took a dramatic turn on July 22, 1934. John Dillinger, the notorious bank robber, attended a showing of Manhattan Melodrama. He was accompanied by Ana Cumpănaș, also known as Anna Sage, and Polly Hamilton. Anna Sage was also known as “The Woman in Red.” FBI agents, led by Melvin Purvis, were waiting outside. Dillinger attempted to flee. He tried to pull a pistol but was shot dead in the alley. Anna Sage had leaked Dillinger’s whereabouts to the FBI. She feared deportation to Romania.
From the 1970s through the 1980s, the Biograph hosted midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. These were raucous events with costumed cult followings.
In 2004, Victory Gardens Theater purchased the Biograph. After 90 years as a movie theater, it became a live venue. Architect Daniel P. Coffey led a complete renovation. The new theater features a proscenium-thrust stage and seating for 299 people. A grand staircase was restored. It leads to a second-floor studio theater with 135 seats. An adjacent rehearsal space completes the transformation. The Victory Gardens at the Biograph opened in the fall of 2006.
For the 2009 film Public Enemies, the facades of the theater and nearby businesses were restored to their 1934 appearance. The Biograph also appears in the 2000 film High Fidelity. However, the film mistakenly places the Dillinger shootout inside the theater.
Today, the Biograph continues to offer live performances. It stands as a testament to its rich and complex past. The Biograph is a designated Chicago Landmark since 2001. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The Biograph Theater has witnessed everything from gangster drama to cinematic cult classics and theatrical reinvention.