In recognition of 30 years as Chicago’s premier art house cinema, the Chicago City Council has proclaimed Friday, Nov. 22, 2013, Music Box Theatre Day in Chicago. For the final two weeks of its fall 2013 calendar, Nov. 22-Dec. 5, the Lakeview movie palace will revert to repertory, double-feature programming, bringing back the kind of programming the theater ran 30 years ago. The public is invited to celebrate during a cocktail receptionFriday, November 22, 6 p.m., before the inaugural double feature of North By Northwest and The Big Lebowski at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. $10.
The following evening, the public is also invited to the Music Box Theatre Winter 2014 Calendar Release Party, a special night of live music, camaraderie and a new restoration of Harold Lloyd’s silent classic The Freshman. Doors open Saturday night at 7pm with a reception and live jazz music by The Fat Babies, a seven-piece jazz band interpreting classic styles of the 1920s and 30s. At 8 p.m., live vaudeville acts precede a screening of The Freshman with live organ accompaniment by Dennis Scott on the Music Box Theatre organ. Saturday, Nov. 23, 7 – 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 atwww.musicboxtheatre.com/events/the-freshman-with-live-music-and-reception-2013-nov-23-sat-0800pm
The anniversary celebration comes at the end of a banner year that brought significant renovations to Music Box 2, the cozy secondary screening room at the Music Box, resulting in an upgrade to digital projection and an enhanced viewing experience. The changes continue Music Box’s storied history of presenting the best in digital and film projection and programming capabilities for independent and foreign films, festivals and some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago.
