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Biograph Theatre
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Biograph Theatre

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Biograph Theatre
4
18 reviews
#248 of 775 things to do in Chicago
Historic Sites • Theaters
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: North Side
How to get there
  • Fullerton • 4 min walk
  • Diversey • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,807 within 3 miles
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
276
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Sapori Trattoria
514
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Molly's Cupcakes
330
0.4 mi$ • Bakeries • American
Red Lion Pub
55
167 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Pub
Kingston Mines
89
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar
Chicagos Dog House
53
373 ft$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast Food
Broken English Tacopub!
35
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Latin • Bar
La Crosta Woodfire Pizzeria Italiana
23
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Galit Restaurant
30
101 ft$$$$ • Mediterranean • Middle Eastern • Israeli
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
849
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Latin • Spanish • Contemporary
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
18 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
7
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Bob C
Batesburg, SC49 contributions
Dillinger's Doomsday Spot
Jan 2020 • Solo
Use your imagination to retrace John Dillinger's footsteps on his fateful night. From the exit door to his death location in the alley nextdoor. Public Enemy #1 no more!!
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Teresa H
Platte City, MO46 contributions
Fun bit of crime history
Jun 2019
I stopped by this location as part of a bus tour and wasn't able to go inside. It was quite a distance from downtown Chicago. Considering that I wasn't able to go inside, I'm not sure it would be worth the trip to see just this location.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brianlion
Delaware, OH10 contributions
Biograph Doesn't Revel In Its History
My wife and I were in Chicago for business over the Christmas holidays in 2006. We wanted to see Wrigley Field, and decided to stop at the famous Biograph Theatre as well. From the history books, movies, and documentaries, we were acutely aware that the Biograph is where the Lady in Red gave up John Dillinger to the G-Men. We were a little disappointed because the Biograph does not seem to revel in its history. There are no signs or landmarks stating the history there. The theatre has been redone, and there is little evidence of the appearance of the theatre during the time Dillinger walked out of that theatre. We would have thought they would have refurbished the interior to the decor at the time of their glory days of the 1930's. The marquee on the outside is just a plain regular theatre marquee. The alley where Dillinger was gunned down has no marker noting the significance. Most would never guess the history that once occured here because the theatre doesn't play it up. That is their choice, but it become a very average building that seems to be struggling to stay afloat.
Written March 6, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brianlion57
Delaware, OH13 contributions
Biograph Theatre: Go For the History, Don't Stay For the Present
May 2013 • Family
Drove to Chicago for a Cubs game, and we decided to stop off at the historic Biograph because of the John Dillinger connection. We enjoyed walking around the area and soaking in the history. When we went inside the lobby though, we were treated pretty shabbily by some who apparently thought they were more important than they actually were. One lady running around told us there was nothing in the theatre to see, and a fat guy sitting at a table asked, "what does this guy want?". I explained what they should have already realized, that we were history buffs, and the Biograph was on our list of places to see. The lady-whoever she was, suggested we look around outside for anything historic. So much for reveling and honoring their history. What they do niot realize is that if Dillinger had not been shot there by the G-men, no one outside the area would have ever heard of the Biograph
Written May 19, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
worldtravelier
New Jersey4,091 contributions
Not Inside Review; Outside as a Gangster Hit.
Jun 2015 • Friends
This review is not what is inside but what occurred in front in the roaring twenties. As part of a gangster tour, this was a stop that described how Dillinger was gunned down with tommy guns by federal agents while he was leaving this theatre. The spot where he fell is shown as well as the original overhead lights that eliminated the street from the marquee. There is a plaque that indicated that the structure is registered as a historical sight.
Written June 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Benjamin N
Palatine, IL422 contributions
Go for the show, not the history
Dec 2011 • Couples
As the previous reviewer mentioned, The Biograph Theatre has not done the greatest job in preserving or promoting its history.
They have, however, redressed the facades of the theater and surrounding businesses for the movie Public Enemies. So, if you go for the history walking around would suffice.
Now for the new: don't miss on the great shows that they put up here. The acting is superb. There's not one bad seat in this theater. This is the place to go see a play with unpretentious undervalued actors.

So, go for history, stay for the show, come back for more.
Written December 9, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
meezer3
Chicago, Illinois1,285 contributions
Amazing hostoric spot
Sep 2019
I have lived all my life, pretty much, just outside Chicago and of course knew of John Dillinger and his history. My friend from the UK is fascinated with Chicago and asked that we take a "Gangster tour". We did and this is the first stop of the tour. I am so glad we went because I would never have known how to get here myself. Great story about the night he died in the alley near the theater after attending a movie at the Biograph Theatre with his girlfriend.
Written October 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Menno
Utrecht, The Netherlands989 contributions
Great place for a mob-fan
May 2019 • Couples
Strange to say but this theater is a great place to visit when you’re a mob-fan like me. The place of the final moments of the famous John Dillinger.
Little did I know there’s some sort of John Dillinger club still gathering across the street every year.
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,345 contributions
One of Chicago's most popular tourist destinations
Apr 2019
How does a motion picture theatre become a Chicago Landmark (2001) and earn a spot on the National Register of Historic Places (1984)? By being site where a well-known gangster was killed. Located at 2433 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, the Biograph Theater is notable as the location where bank robber John Dillinger was shot by FBI agents after watching a gangster movie on July 22, 1934. The Biograph, which opened in 1914, featured many of the distinguishing characteristics of movie houses of the 1930s, including a storefront-width lobby, recessed entrance, free-standing ticket booth and canopy marquee. The building was finished in red pressed brick and white-glazed terra cotta. In July 2004, after 90 years as a movie theater under various owners, Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater purchased the Biograph for use as a venue for live theatrical productions. The theater was completed renovated with a stage and seating for 299 people, dressing rooms and an adjacent rehearsal/multiple-use space that cost $11 million. The project was completed in 2006 with the new Victory Gardens at the Biograph featuring a new stage that is 30 feet deep and 32 feet wide and 16 feet of wing space on either side and an eight-foot trap space beneath the stage. Today, Victory Gardens is a popular destination for theater-goers but locals and tourists still know the site as the Biograph, where FBI agent Melvin Purvis gunned down the FBI's most wanted man, John Dillinger.
Written April 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
bukagirl
New Jersey3,796 contributions
Gangsters
Oct 2018 • Couples
Took a nice walk from downtown to see the spot where John Dillenger was shot in the back alley of this theater.
Cool area to walk around in and if you like gangster history check it out!
Written October 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Biograph Theatre (Chicago) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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