Only minutes from downtown at McCormick Place Lakeside, the Arie Crown is a beautiful and convenient place to see a show. It is a perfect combination of past and present, combining a diverse theater heritage with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities. The Arie Crown is Chicago's largest first class, legitimate theatre, attracting top-name performers and lavish productions.
Arie Crown was a Lithuanian immigrant who became an American success story. Just 15 years old when he arrived in Chicago in 1875, he would eventually become one of Chicago's most successful businessmen and patriarch of a prominent family. His father was Henry Crown, American industrialist and philanthropist.
The Theater that bears his name was completed in 1960 as part of the McCormick Place complex. At that time, the Arie Crown Theater was truly a giant venue, boasting over 5,000 seats and hosting some of Chicago's most spectacular events.
In 1967, McCormick Place was struck by fire. The theatre was damaged by fire in 1967 and was closed until 1971. While the Arie Crown Theater itself was spared, major reconstruction of McCormick Place forced the theater to close. It reopened in 1971 for Mahalia Jackson's funeral.
The Arie Crown had been partially rebuilt and was reduced in size. The Theater enjoyed its glory years upon reopening. 'Peter Pan' swung from the rafters, Carol Channing crooned 'Hello Dolly' and Yul Brenner ruled in 'The King and I.'
By the mid-1980s, the Theater primarily hosted concerts, trade shows and corporate events.
Jerry performed here:
04/18/75 Legion of Mary
11/23/83 Early+Late Jerry Garcia Band(4)
1.)^http://www.ariecrown.com/about/about_us.html
2.)^http://www.ariecrown.com/about/history.html
3.)^http://thejerrysite.com/shows/show/1153
4.)^http://thejerrysite.com/shows/show/1658
I believe it is Theatre.
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