The Coronet

February 19th, 1937. The air crackled with excitement in Evanston. The Coronet Theatre, a newly renovated gem, opened its doors. The Coronet wasn’t always called that. It began its life in 1915 as the humble Triangle Theatre. In the roaring twenties, it was briefly known as the Park Theatre. Then, in 1928, it became the New Main Theatre. Finally, under the ownership of Balaban & Katz in 1936, the theatre underwent a stunning transformation. The architects, Pereira & Pereira, reshaped the building into an Art Deco masterpiece. The Coronet was born. This wasn’t one of Evanston’s largest movie houses. Venues like the Varsity, the Valencia, and the Stadium (later the Evanston) dwarfed it. The Coronet held just over 800 seats. Yet, its charm and elegance made it a beloved destination for moviegoers. For decades, The Coronet showcased first-run films, drawing crowds eager to experience the latest Hollywood releases. Sadly, the rise of larger multiplexes in the 1970s marked the beginning of The Coronet’s decline. It closed its doors as a movie theatre in 1984. There were attempts to revive it as a concert venue, but these were short-lived. By the late 1990s, The Coronet stood silent and empty. In 2000, the building was demolished, a poignant end to a vibrant chapter in Evanston’s entertainment history.