Morse Theater Explained

The Morse Theater operated in the East Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago from 1912 until 1930. Since then, it has operated as the Co-Ed Theater, a synagogue, a cobbler, a jazz club, the Mayne Stage, and most recently in 2022, it reopened as the Rhapsody Theater.

History

Located at 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago, the Morse Theater opened in 1912 as a 600-seat nickelodeon and vaudeville house.[1] From 1930 to 1954 it operated as the Co-Ed Theater,[2] a reference to its proximity to Loyola University. Starting in 1955 the building was used as a synagogue for the Congregation Beth Israel Anshe Yanova.[3] In 1977 the building came under ownership of the Geroulis family and housed their business, Cobblers Mall. The shoe repair shop moved to a smaller location on the same block in 2004.[4]

In 2008 the theater underwent a $6 million renovation to become a jazz club featuring cabaret style seating and a high end audio system, once again operating as the Morse. That same year, the newly renovated Morse was damaged in what officials suspected to be arson motivated by anti-gentrification sentiments.[5] The Morse Theater suffered its next setback when the building owners entered into a dispute with its operators in 2009.[6] It closed when efforts to resolve this dispute failed.

The theater reopened under new management in 2010 as the Mayne Stage, a theater focused on live music and comedy.[7] The new name was a reference to the location of the theatre, on the intersection of Morse Ave and Wayne Ave. The Mayne Stage was viewed as a potential sign of renewal in what had been an economically challenged neighborhood.[8] After six years, owner Jennifer Pritzker and management company Tawani Enterprises closed the Mayne Stage as a public venue for concerts. Between 2016 and 2022, the theater operated as a site for private events.[9] [10]

In June 2022, the venue reopened as the Rhapsody Theater, under the management of Ricardo T. Rosenkranz. The venue currently hosts live performances, including music and magic shows.[11]

References

42.0083°N -87.665°W

Notes and References

  1. News: Reich . Howard . February 24, 2008 . Bringing jazz to Rogers Park: Will people follow? . Chicago Tribune . September 11, 2024 . September 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916201901/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/02/24/bringing-jazz-to-rogers-park-will-people-follow/ . live .
  2. News: Woodard . Benjamin . December 18, 2014 . Throwback Thursday: Rogers Park's Morse Avenue Revealed in Old Photos . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170327081237/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141218/rogers-park/throwback-thursday-rogers-parks-morse-avenue-revealed-old-photos . 2017-03-27 . DNA Info.
  3. Book: Packer, Rober . Images of America: Chicago's Forgotten Synagogues . Arcadia Publishing . 2007 . 9780738551524 . July 28, 2022 . September 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916201912/https://books.google.com/books?id=3Nk6rBDidnUC&q=morse&pg=PT23#v=snippet&q=morse&f=false . live .
  4. News: Woodward . Benjamin . October 21, 2014 . 93-Year-Old Morse Avenue Shoe Repair Shop Closes After Owner Falls Ill . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170327080740/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141021/rogers-park/after-93-years-morse-avenue-shoe-repair-shop-closes-after-owner-falls-ill . 2017-03-27 . DNA Info.
  5. News: Long . Jeff . 11 August 2008 . Arson suspected in Rogers Park theater fire . https://web.archive.org/web/20160131131118/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-11/news/0808100305_1_arson-suspected-world-music-festival . 2016-01-31 . Chicago Tribune.
  6. News: Reich . Howard . 11 March 2009 . Morse Theatre operators, owners strike deal to remain open . https://web.archive.org/web/20151019144842/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-03-11/entertainment/0903110082_1_operation-theater-first-class . 2015-10-19 . Chicago Tribune.
  7. News: Reich . Howard . 27 June 2010 . The Mayne Stage picks up where the Morse Theatre left off . https://web.archive.org/web/20100901025420/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-06-27/entertainment/ct-ae-0627-mayne-stage-20100627_1_morse-theatre-mayne-stage-empire-room . 2010-09-01 . Chicago Tribune.
  8. News: Reich . Howard . 4 January 2010 . Coming soon: A renamed, revived Morse Theatre . https://web.archive.org/web/20141031030926/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-01-04/entertainment/1001030172_1_movie-theater-silent-city-hall . 2014-10-31 . Chicago Tribune.
  9. News: Rice . Linze . 4 April 2016 . Mayne Stage Ditches Live Music, Will Host Weddings, Private Parties Instead . DNA Info . September 16, 2024 . December 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203013135/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160404/rogers-park/mayne-stage-ditches-live-music-will-host-weddings-private-parties-instead/ . dead .
  10. News: Sudo . Chuck . 5 April 2016 . Rogers Park Theater Mayne Stage To Stop Hosting Shows . BISNOW . November 28, 2016 . December 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122731/https://www.bisnow.com/chicago/news/commercial-real-estate/jennifer-pritzker-closing-mayne-stage-to-public-58327 . live .
  11. News: Yassine . Leen . June 17, 2022 . Rhapsody Theater Opens In Rogers Park, Bringing Magic And Music To Former Mayne Stage . 21 June 2024 . Block Club Chicago . September 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240916201909/https://blockclubchicago.org/2022/06/17/rhapsody-theater-opens-friday-in-rogers-park-bringing-magic-and-music-to-former-mayne-stage/ . live .

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