Davis Theater

Davis Theater is a cinema with four screening rooms housed in a building that opened in 1918 on Lincoln Avenue. The structure follows early 1900s architectural style and was designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager.

The building started as Pershing Theater in 1918, named after General John J. Pershing, and later adapted to the shift from silent films to talking pictures. This change in the 1930s marked a turning point in its story.

The venue serves a long-established German-speaking community whose presence shaped the neighborhood for generations. Its programming reflects the diversity of the people who call Lincoln Square home.

The cinema is located on Lincoln Avenue and shows current releases most days of the week. Visitors should note its location in the Lincoln Square neighborhood and check ahead to see what is playing.

The theater is the last surviving cinema of five original movie houses that once operated in Lincoln Square. In 1999, it narrowly escaped demolition through community efforts to save it.

Location: Chicago

Inception: 1918

Architects: Walter W. Ahlschlager

Official opening: 1918

Address: 4614 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625

Website: http://davistheater.com

GPS coordinates: 41.96540,-87.68680

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:01