The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theatre located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban and Katz (B&K) group of theatres run by A. J. Balaban, his brother Barney Balaban and partner Sam Katz. Along with the other B&K theatres, from 1925 CE to 1945 CE the Chicago Theatre was a dominant movie theatre enterprise. Currently, Madison Square Garden, Inc. owns and operates the Chicago Theatre as a 3600 seat performing arts venue for stage plays, magic shows, comedy, speeches, sporting events and popular music concerts.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1979 CE, and was listed as a Chicago Landmark on January 28, 1983 CE. The distinctive Chicago Theatre marquee, "an unofficial emblem of the city", appears frequently in film, television, artwork, and photography.