The Central Park Theatre was the first Balaban and Katz presentation house. Its success led to Balaban and Katz’s construction of the Riviera, Tivoli, Chicago, and Uptown theaters, and laid the foundation for a market-dominating entertainment empire.

Since 1971, the Central Park has served Chicago and the Lawndale neighborhood as the House of Prayer, Church of God in Christ.

In 2004, Within Our Gates (1920) was the first motion picture to be shown in the theater since 1971.

Resources: Cinema Treasures website : with additional information provided by James Pierce.