Arriving at the Music Box Theatre, one of Chicago’s most iconic independent cinemas.

Arriving at the Music Box Theatre, one of Chicago’s most iconic independent cinemas.

Description: This episode is about the Music Box Theatre in Chicago, a historic cinema that offers more than just films. From classics to international films, it preserves film history, celebrates diverse stories, and creates a unique sense of community.

 

Transcript

Welcome to the ELI’s Finding Chicago Global Perspectives Podcast Series for AEPP 2025. I’m your host, Armando Neavez, and I’m currently enrolled in the University of Chicago’s Law School.

On September 10th, I went with my sister to the Music Box Theatre in Chicago at Lake View. Since both of us love movies, we thought it would be a perfect plan.

When we checked the website to buy tickets, we were amazed by all the options. They had old classic films, international movies, outdoor screening in the garden, and even special festivals and horror nights, well it’s almost October. It was clear for us that the Music Box wasn’t just another movie theatre.

When we arrived, the first thing we saw were the neon lights glowing “Music Box.” Inside, the room breathed 1920s: red curtains, warm gold sconces, and a pipe organ warming up before the show. Honestly, it felt like stepping into a movie and a piece of history at the same time.

Once the movie began, I couldn’t stop looking around. The organ swelled and the whole room woke up. Later I learned the Music Box is the only theatre in Chicago that still has an organ—no wonder the experience felt unique.

After the film, my sister and I went to the bar inside the theatre. We had a drink and then we discovered that there was also a screening outside in the garden. To be honest, enjoying a second movie in the garden during a summer night in Chicago was definitely not in our plans but it was totally worth it.

So by the end of the night, we weren’t only talking about the films, but also about the building, the organ, and how different the Music Box felt compared to other cinemas we had been to. Honestly, It didn’t feel only like entertainment, it felt like we were sharing a cultural moment.

Besides having a great time, this experience also made me wonder about the role of independent theatres in big cities like Chicago.

I found that the independent theatre scene in Chicago really began in the 1970s, when alternatives to Hollywood started to appear. During that time, small neighborhood theatres began showing films that were harder to find elsewhere. Think about foreign films, documentaries, experimental works. So, eventually they became safe spaces for people who wanted to see something different. In fact, the Music Box, after its restorations in 1983, became part of that movement. However, a question I asked myself was: why should people keep choosing these places today, instead of, I don’t know, just going to mainstream cinemas or staying home with streaming platforms?

Well, on one level, the answer is for the true movie lover. If you are interested in watching a classic movie in its original format, like 35 or 70mm, this is definitely the place. They offer different options. Or even you can enjoy recent movies shot in the same format, for example, Cristopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which the Music Box was one of the few theatres in Chicago to screen in 70 mm.

But honestly, I believe there’s also a deeper reason to visit independent theatres. And that’s because they give us the chance to explore new cultures and social realities that we don’t always see in mainstream media. It could be a foreign film showing daily life in another country, or an independent filmmaker sharing a story with fewer filters than a big studio would allow. In that sense, they expand our perspective and help us see the world in ways that go beyond entertainment.

On the Music Box website, for example, I found a series called “Crucemos al Otro Lado”. It features movies by Latin American filmmakers and stories about Hispanic characters, all made by Latino directors in Chicago. As a Latino myself, I found it powerful to see that representation. I also noticed that other theaters in Chicago have programs dedicated to Black stories and LGBTQ voices, for example, which I believe shows a real effort to make cinema more inclusive.

Overall, this made me realize that these spaces are not only about entertainment. They also give artists the opportunity to share truly alternative perspectives or to help amplify the voices of different communities, which I believe could lead to eventually having more open conversations and deeper reflections that might not happen otherwise.

So, why cinema? Well, we can learn through activism, books, or galleries—but theatres like the Music Box I feel are special. They ask us to sit together, feel together, and imagine together. They make room for listening.

And that sense of community was exactly what I felt that night. The audience was really engaged and seemed genuinely interested and open to hear different perspectives. That’s why I think these theaters still matter in a diverse city like Chicago.

Furthermore, theaters like the Music Box also tell us something relevant about Chicago itself. Well, the city has always been known for protecting its cultural landmarks, from jazz clubs, libraries, architectural spaces. I believe independent cinemas are part of that same tradition.

So, in the end, visiting the Music Box Theatre made me realize that independent cinemas are more than just places to watch movies. They are spaces where culture and community come together. And by this I don’t mean we should stop going to traditional cinemas, we have to support cinema! I just think we should also give attention to independent spaces, because of what they have to offer us both on a personal and a collective level.

Well, that is all for today’s episode. Thank you for listening.

This was Armando Neavez for the ELI’s Finding Chicago Global Perspectives Podcast Series. See you next time.