Riviera Theatre, Music venue and former movie theater in Uptown, Chicago, United States
The Riviera Theatre sits at the corner of Lawrence, Broadway, and Racine in the Uptown neighborhood, hosting up to 2,500 people in a multilevel auditorium. The stage stands at the center with sloped floor seating in front, while curved balconies line the side walls and offer views from nearly every angle.
Architects Rapp and Rapp designed the building in 1917 as a movie palace for the Balaban & Katz chain, which operated several theaters across Chicago at the time. The hall first showed silent films with live orchestra accompaniment before it was converted decades later into a venue for concerts and live music performances.
The theater recorded performances of numerous musicians, including Tin Machine's live album in 1991 and Pantera's music video for Walk in 1992.
The entrance faces the intersection of three busy streets and is reachable on foot, by public transit, or by car. Doors typically open one hour before showtime, though opening times may vary depending on the event.
The walls still carry plasterwork from the early 20th century that was originally designed to enhance the acoustics of live orchestra music. These decorations now absorb the sound of modern amplifiers and create a warm listening environment for rock concerts.
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